EIGHT THOUGHTS ON THE ELITE EIGHT

AN INSIDER’S LOOK AT THE 2026 CINCINNATI OPEN QUARTERFINALS

By Richard Osborn

1 | THE DEFENDING CHAMP IS ZONING

Things hadn’t really gone Iga Swiatek’s way all summer. There was her Round of 16 stumble against Marta Kostyuk at Roland Garros, a tournament she’s won four times. Early exits would follow on grass at both Bad Homburg and Wimbledon, where she was the defending champion. By the time she headed across the Atlantic for the North American hard-court swing, the 25-year-old Pole was fully in the doldrums. But there’s nothing like a win streak to lift your mood. Swiatek reeled off six straight hard-court wins in claiming her 12th WTA 1000 crown at the National Bank Open in Toronto. Having extended that streak to nine at the Cincinnati Open, where she’s in the midst of a title defense, Swiatek is looking as relaxed and composed as she has in months. “I needed to win some matches against good players to feel a little bit more confident,” she said after her fourth-round, 6-3, 6-3 win over Frenchwoman Diane Parry. “I would say I feel a bit calmer, more sure of what I’m doing, more confident in tough situations.” Swiatek is now into her 30th WTA 1000 quarterfinal in 48 appearances. Only Serena Williams (45) and Agnieszka Radwanska (46) reached as many in fewer appearances. Now we’re in for a rematch of the Canada final: Swiatek vs. Elena Rybakina.

2 | RAFA 2.0 IS THE REAL DEAL (BUT FLAVIO REFUSED TO CAVE)

So flummoxed was Flavio Cobolli by Rafael Jodar’s shotmaking that the Italian fell to his knees on P&G Center Court and raised his fists toward some higher power, as if to ask: “WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO BEAT THIS GUY???” Said the Roland Garros runner-up, “I just asked to be a little bit luckier. I was so frustrated.” After dropping the first set to his 19-year-old foe, now on the verge of the Top 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Cobolli would eventually find some answers and overcome Jodar, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-3. The 24-year-old Cobolli, now into his second ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal, was clearly impressed by the young Spaniard, who has jumped from No. 540 to No. 11 in a matter of a single calendar year. He went so far as to put the newcomer on par with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. “He’s going to be very, very, very hard for everybody on tour,” he said. “I see him really close to the other two guys that we already know the rankings, the names of. For being his first season, he’s doing an incredible thing.” Now THAT’S high praise.

3 | JESS IS AN ELITE TROUBLESHOOTER

Playing in tricky conditions on Grandstand Court in the Round of 16, 2024 finalist Jessica Pegula found a way to navigate the swirling winds and tour vet Sorana Cirstea in three sets, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5. That shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone: She’s long been one of the tour’s best on-the-fly problem-solvers. “People have told me that I seem to be pretty good at that,” said Pegula, 32. “I’ll take it. I’m glad I was able to figure it out.” Next up for Pegula will be an all-U.S. showdown with Amanda Anisimova, a battle between two former US Open runners-up. It will be their third encounter of 2026, Pegula having won the previous two. She leads the WTA Tour in 2026 with 42 match wins, and is seeking her third title of the year after Dubai and Charleston.

4 | MARTA IS A WHOLE NEW PLAYER IN 2026

No one has ever doubted onetime teen prodigy Marta Kostyuk’s potential, but it’s only this year that the 24-year-old Ukrainian is truly showing all she’s capable of on a tennis court. Having refined her mental approach, she has enjoyed a breakthrough 2026 with her first WTA 1000 title in Madrid and consecutive Grand Slam semifinals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. She arrived in Cincinnati at a career-high No. 11 in the PIF WTA Rankings. “We are constantly trying to get better, but some things just take time,” she told CincinnatiOpen.com. “It took me this much time to get to where I am right now. But I’m focusing on the process, not on the results or rankings. I just try to be consistent in the everyday work.” That consistency showed in her Round of 16, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 dismissal of Mirra Andreeva, payback for her loss to the eventual Roland Garros titlist in Paris. Her next challenge comes in the form of 2023 Cincinnati Open winner Coco Gauff.

5 | IT’S A BANNER YEAR FOR AMERICANS IN CINCINNATI

With Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Amanda Amisimova and Madison Keys all prevailing on a busy Wednesday at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, four American women are through to the quarterfinals for the first time since the WTA Tour returned to Cincinnati in 2004. Meanwhile, with Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe and Brandon Nakashima all advancing, there are four American men into the quarterfinals for the first time since 1995. 

6 | MARRIED LIFE IS TREATING TOMMY WELL

Just a month removed from his wedding (he married influencer/entrepreneur Paige Lorenze in Long Island on July 14), American Tommy Paul is sure finding his groove in the run-up to the US Open. Amidst on-again/off-again rain on Wednesday evening, Paul took down top seed Alexander Zverev of Germany, 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4, his third win in four encounters with the world No. 3 and reigning Roland Garros champ. “He’s an amazing player, a Grand Slam champion this year,” said Paul, into his first Cincinnati Open quarterfinal. “It’s nice to win those matches. Ultimately, the goal is to play our best tennis in New York. I’m happy with the direction that I’m moving in.” Paul becomes the first American man to earn a Top-3 win in Cincinnati since John Isner took down then-No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals in 2013. Next up: Italy’s Flavio Cobolli.

7 | MONSIEUR FILS IS HEALTHY AND FEELING IT

Following an injury riddled year that caused him to miss nearly eight months due to a lower back stress fracture, the gifted Arthur Fils is back and flashing his skills once again on a regular basis. In taking down the always-difficult Alex de Minaur on Grandstand Court, 6-3, 6-4, Fils pulled even with Jo-Wifried Tsonga for the most ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinals reached in a single season by a Frenchman (five). “It feels great,” said Fils, back inside the Top 25 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “It’s my best win in a long time. It’s always an honor to share the court with him.” Now it’s onto the elite eight and a matchup with giant killer Thiago Agustin Tirante of Argentina, who has thus far stunned the likes of three-time champion Novak Djokovic and 14th seed Jakub Mensik of Czechia.

8 | NO. 1 IS STILL AT STAKE IN CINCY

With reigning No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka’s shock loss to 20-year-old Czech Sara Bejlek on Wednesday night on P&G Center Court, the top spot in the PIF WTA Rankings is ripe for the taking. Should the now-No. 2 Elena Rybakina go on to win the title in Cincinnati, we would be in for a transfer of power.