Despite the Czech Curse, Czech tennis keeps on keeping on

🎾 #Tennis #CincyTennis #CincinnatiOpen #CincyOpen Sara Bejlek defeats the WTA #1 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets. Aryna was cruising up 4 games to 1 & then Sara took the last 5 games. I don't really understand what just happened.

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— Mark Taylor (@emarktaylor.bsky.social) August 19, 2026 at 11:32 PM

Karolina Muchova, probably the most injured player on the tour, withdrew from this year's Cincinnati Open in order to take care of her body in preparation fort the U.S. Open. Muchova has looked good lately, but fans of the Czech artist always hold their collective breath because--the injuries seem to always be lurking in the background. Barbora Krejcikova, victim of the Czech Curse Double--both injury and illness--is back on the tour, but she sometimes appears vulnerable--and tired. Such was the case when she played countrywoman Sara Bejlek in the second round. Bejlek defeated the two-time major champion 7-6 (5), 6-4.

Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova made it to the round of 16, in which she lost in straight sets to an on-fire Amanda Anisimova. But Bejlek was still standing, and would go on to defeat top seed and 2025 champion Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets in that same round. The 20-year-old lefty then went on to defeat Madison Keys in the quarterfinals, in a highly competitive match in which the Czech player was down 3-6, 1-3.  Bejlek is only five feet, three inches tall, but she's very quick, and she plays a great defensive game. (She will undoubtedly gain the "feisty" label from commentators.) 

Bejlek gained a lot of attention this year when--playing as a qualifier, and ranked number 101 in the world-she won the Abu Dhabi title. In that event, she defeated Alona Ostapenko, Clara Tauson and--in the final-- Ekaterina Alexandrova. 

Coco Gauff advanced to the semifinals tonight when she defeated Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-2. This was a match that probably "should" have been more competitive, but Kostyuk' second serve let her down repeatedly.

Defending champion Iga Swiatek has looked good in Cincinnati, and she was the recipient of an unfortunate gift yesterday when opponent Elena Rybakina had to retire from their quarterfinal because of an achillies injury. And in a close, exciting match, Jessica Pegula defeated countrywoman Amanda Anisimova 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4). 

Here is the semifinal draw:

Sara Bejlek v. Coco Gauff (4)
Jessica Pegula (3) v. Iga Swiatek (7) 

In doubles, the unseeded team of Magali Kempen and Alexandra Panova upset 5th seeds Hsieh Su-wie and Alona Ostapenko in the semifinals, and will face another unseeded team, Marie Bouzkova and Linda Noskova, in the final.