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Defending champion Iga Swiatek survived a first-set wobble to dispatch 29th seed Maria Sakkari 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 in commanding fashion, while second seed Elena Rybakina edged Magdalena Frech 6-4, 7-6(2) to keep her WTA No. 1 ranking ambitions alive. Amanda Anisimova came from a set down to beat Alexandra Eala 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in an absorbing three-setter, Jessica Pegula overpowered Emma Navarro 7-5, 6-2 in an all-American clash, Linda Noskova defeated Clara Tauson, Diana Shnaider beat Maja Chwalinska, and Diane Parry produced the day’s French thriller — beating wildcard compatriot Lois Boisson 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Anna Kalinskaya retired against Sorana Cirstea trailing 6-7(4), 6-1, 5-0 to complete a full day of women’s action in Ohio.
Mason, Ohio: Monday’s women’s draw delivered everything the Cincinnati faithful could have hoped for — a defending champion tested and ultimately dominant, a world No. 1 ranking battle intensifying with every match, a Philippine teenager making history, and a pair of Frenchwomen going head to head in one of the day’s most emotionally charged contests. The Round of 32 is complete and the draw is taking a compelling shape.
Swiatek Bounces Back After Sakkari Scare
Defending champion Iga Swiatek found herself in unfamiliar territory when Maria Sakkari claimed the opening set 6-4 — the Greek 29th seed playing with the energy of a player who felt the draw had opened up around her and was determined to make the most of it. Swiatek, playing her first match since a long layoff, looked ring-rusty in the first set, her forehand misfiring and her movement lacking its usual sharpness.
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But class told. Swiatek bounced back from losing the opening set to beat Sakkari 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 — the second and third sets a reminder of exactly why the Pole is a seven-time Grand Slam champion. She broke Sakkari three times in the second set and moved through the third with surgical efficiency, the Greek simply unable to replicate the level of her first-set performance. Swiatek advances to the Round of 16 as the defending champion and a genuine title contender.
Rybakina Keeps No. 1 Hopes Alive
Elena Rybakina overcame Magdalena Frech 6-4, 7-6(2) in a match that carried the weight of the WTA world No. 1 ranking battle hovering over every point. Frech — who had impressively eliminated Jelena Ostapenko in the previous round — gave Rybakina genuine problems early in the second set, breaking to lead before the Kazakh reasserted her authority and dominated the tiebreak. Rybakina’s serve, as ever, was the decisive weapon — 11 aces across the match left Frech with no consistent route back into proceedings. The Kazakh advances, and with Aryna Sabalenka yet to play her Round of 32 match, the ranking picture remains unresolved.
Anisimova Sees Off Eala in Three-Set Battle
Ninth seed Amanda Anisimova came through a stiff test from 17th-seeded Alexandra Eala, winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in a match that had the crowd gripped from the outset. Eala took the first set with impressive aggression, her flat groundstrokes giving the American no time to settle. But Anisimova — a proven big-match performer — regrouped with composure in the second, broke back to level, and then dominated the third set to close out 6-2. It was a reminder of Anisimova’s quality under pressure, and of Eala’s growing stature — the Filipino had this match very much in her grasp before Anisimova’s experience told.
Pegula Overpowers Fellow American Navarro
Jessica Pegula defeated fellow American Emma Navarro 7-5, 6-2 in an all-American showdown that was tighter than the scoreline suggests in the first set before Pegula pulled away decisively. The third seed’s return game was outstanding — she broke Navarro three times in the second set as the 25th seed’s serve crumbled under pressure. Pegula advances to the Round of 16 as one of the tournament’s most dangerous contenders, her hardcourt game having been among the most consistent in the draw.
Noskova, Shnaider and Cirstea Advance
Diana Shnaider and Linda Noskova also progressed. Noskova (6) accounted for 27th seed Clara Tauson 7-6(3), 6-2 in a match where the Dane threatened in the first set before Noskova’s power asserted itself in the tiebreak and carried through to a dominant second set. Shnaider (14) was equally efficient against Maja Chwalinska (19), winning 6-2, 7-6(3) — the Polish 19th seed pushing Shnaider hard in the second set before the tiebreak settled the matter.
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Sorana Cirstea advanced after Anna Kalinskaya retired while trailing 6-7(4), 6-1, 5-0 — Kalinskaya having won a tight first-set tiebreak before Cirstea dominated the second and raced through the third before the retirement was called. The nature of Kalinskaya’s withdrawal was not immediately confirmed but the retirement denied tennis fans what had been shaping up as a tense conclusion.
Parry Beats Boisson in All-French Battle
The day’s most emotionally charged contest was the all-French affair between Diane Parry and wildcard Lois Boisson — the same Boisson who had retired Belinda Bencic in the previous round. Parry fell behind a set and found herself in a familiar position of having to fight back, but she rose to the occasion, winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a match that had the crowd — many neutral, happy simply to see French tennis at its competitive best — on the edge of their seats. Boisson’s wildcard run ends here; Parry advances to a Round of 16 that represents the deepest she has been at a Masters 1000 event.
Round of 32 Results — Cincinnati Open 2026 Women (Monday, August 17–18)
Amanda Anisimova (9) def. Alexandra Eala (17) — 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
Jessica Pegula (3) def. Emma Navarro (25) — 7-5, 6-2
Linda Noskova (6) def. Clara Tauson (27) — 7-6(3), 6-2
Diana Shnaider (14) def. Maja Chwalinska (19) — 6-2, 7-6(3)
Sorana Cirstea (15) def. Anna Kalinskaya (18) — 6-7(4), 6-1, 5-0 ret.
Elena Rybakina (2) def. Magdalena Frech — 6-4, 7-6(2)
Diane Parry def. Lois Boisson — 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
Iga Swiatek (7) def. Maria Sakkari (29) — 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
