Cincinnati WTA: Swiatek, Sabalenka, Gauff and Rybakina Through

Sunday in Cincinnati: The big four all deliver

Sunday at the Cincinnati Open belonged to the top of the women's draw. Defending champion Iga Swiatek, world number one Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina all won their opening main-draw matches, confirming the pre-tournament billing and setting up an enticing round of 32 in Mason, Ohio.

Swiatek made the fastest work of her opposition. Fresh off winning the Toronto title on Thursday — her first title of 2026 and 26th of her career — the seventh seed demolished Colombian qualifier Emiliana Arango 6-3, 6-0 in just over 72 minutes on centre court. It was her seventh consecutive victory. She landed 68 per cent of first serves and won 72 per cent of those points, while Arango managed only a 31 per cent success rate on second-serve returns. Swiatek next faces Maria Sakkari of Greece in the round of 32.

Sabalenka fires 13 aces in suffocating heat

World number one Aryna Sabalenka faced a very different kind of challenge. With temperatures soaring and humid winds making conditions uncomfortable on the Ohio hardcourts, the Belarusian top seed powered past Talia Gibson 6-2, 7-6(2), relying heavily on her serve: 13 aces in a match that lasted under two hours. "I'm just super tired. It was super hot," Sabalenka admitted afterwards. The tiebreak, won 7-2, underlined her authority even under duress. She will need her energy levels to recover quickly with the tournament intensifying from Monday.

Coco Gauff made it through the hard way. The American fourth seed dropped the first set against Liudmila Samsonova 2-6 before composing herself and winning the next two 6-4, 6-1 — a dominant finish that erased any early concern. Gauff, a two-time Cincinnati finalist, continues to look sharp on hard courts as the US Open approaches at the end of the month.

Rybakina clinical, Andreeva and Svitolina also advance

Elena Rybakina was efficient rather than spectacular against Taylor Townsend, winning 6-3, 6-4 in 68 minutes. The Kazakh second seed, runner-up in Toronto just three days earlier, showed no carry-over fatigue. According to the draw, Rybakina and Swiatek sit in the same quarter, meaning a potential quarter-final clash between the pair is already on the horizon.

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Further down the order, Mirra Andreeva was clinical, dismissing Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-1, 6-0, while Elina Svitolina completed a notable recovery against Tereza Valentova, prevailing 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-0 after a tight middle set. Marta Kostyuk also came from behind to beat Sofia Kenin 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, adding to a strong day for the tournament's depth.

Round of 32: The tournament gets serious

With the top four all safely through, the round of 32 at the Cincinnati WTA promises to be the first genuinely demanding stage. Swiatek faces Sakkari, who is always a threat on quick hard courts. Sabalenka will need to manage her energy after Sunday's physical exertion. Gauff and Rybakina must navigate increasingly difficult opponents before any potential showdown at the business end of the draw. Sabalenka and Gauff sit in the upper half, while Rybakina and Swiatek occupy the lower section — raising the prospect of two blockbuster semi-finals in the days ahead. As the last major WTA event before the US Open, every win, every point of confidence, counts.

Corrected on 4 October 2026: result amended.