Cincinnati Open: Coco Gauff races into semi-finals as USA eye titles in men's and women's tournaments
Coco Gauff reached her fifth WTA 1000 semi-final of 2026, as Frances Tiafoe and Brandon Nakashima lined up a last-four cracker in the men's tournament; Watch the US Open from August 30 live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app
Saturday 22 August 2026 09:15, UK
Coco Gauff swept into the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Open with a 70-minute dismantling of Marta Kostyuk.
The 22-year-old's 6-2 6-2 win over the Ukrainian carried her into a fifth WTA 1000 semi-final of the year and a second in Cincinnati, where she lifted the title in 2023.
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Standing between Gauff and another final is the tournament's giant-killer.
Sara Bejlek, the unseeded 20-year-old who stunned world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets in the last 16, came from a set down to beat 2019 champion Madison Keys 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5) and reach the first WTA 1000 semi-final of her career.
"Sara is a great player," Gauff said. "I watched her a lot in Abu Dhabi this year when she won that title. So I think it's going to be a tough match. I'm looking forward to it."
Bejlek, who won that Abu Dhabi Open title back in February when she was ranked outside the world's top 100, believes her mentality has improved now when facing the top echelon of players in the women's game.
"I believe in myself much more than I ever have before," said the rising Czech star.
World No 3 Jessica Pegula beat Amanda Anisimova in a third set tie-break on Thursday and faces world No 5 and defending champion Iga Swiatek in the other semi-final.
With two Americans also in the semis of the men's singles, Gauff is dreaming of a home sweep this week.
"It's insane, I think we're all doing so well," she said. "Hopefully we can have a double title win. Obviously there are more matches to be played for that to happen. We definitely root for each other."
Tiafoe and Nakashima book first all-US men's semi since 2010
In the men's draw, Frances Tiafoe and Brandon Nakashima made history of their own, becoming the first two Americans to reach the Cincinnati semi-finals since Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish in 2010.
Tiafoe, the 2024 runner-up to Jannik Sinner, needed more than two hours and four match points to see off 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti 7-6 (7-2) 7-5 on a humid Ohio night, firing 18 winners before sealing it with an unreturnable serve as he looks to revive a summer disrupted by a wrist injury and early exits in Washington and Montreal.
Nakashima recovered from a break down in the deciding set to beat sixth seed Taylor Fritz 7-6 (11-9) 4-6 6-3, a fourth top-10 win of the season that makes him the first American man to reach the semi-finals in Canada and Cincinnati in the same year since Mardy Fish in 2011.
Nakashima, who has won just one of his seven professional encounters with his compatriot, is coached by Tiafoe's former coach Wayne Ferreira.
Tiafoe believes both players will know exactly what to expect from each other heading into their last four clash.
"It's a guy who knows me pretty well in Wayne," Tiafoe said. "I expect some good serving and all the best from him. Happy where I've been mentally more than anything. This has been a great week."
Italy's Flavio Cobolli faces Frenchman Arthur Fils in the other men's semi-final, with the US Open beginning later this month, live on Sky Sports.
Watch the ATP and WTA Tours live on Sky Sports. The US Open is also live on Sky Sports from August 30. Stream tennis with NOW.
