World No. 2 Elena Rybakina defeated Magdalena Frech (41) of Poland 6:4, 7:6 (7:2) in a rain-delayed match to advance to the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open 2026 in the USA. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
After losing the first game on her serve, the Kazakhstani player made a break back in the fourth game. At 5:4 in her favor, the first rain delay occurred. When the players returned to the court, Rybakina took another serve from Frech, whom she had previously beaten three times.
The second set was even longer. Until 4:4, the opponents held their serves, then exchanged breaks. Rybakina saved the 11th game from 0:40, and the set eventually went to a tiebreak.
Winning five consecutive points, Elena took the game, set, and match. 6:4, 7:6 (7:2) in 3 hours and 2 minutes, including breaks. Aces were 5:5, double faults 4:1, total points won 90:73.
In the quarterfinals, Rybakina will face the winner of the rematch of the Roland Garros 2026 semifinal. The match between Russian Diana Shnaider (14) and Poland's Maya Khvalinskaya (23) was suspended due to the same rains that hit Cincinnati.
After the early exits of Alexander Shevchenko and Yulia Putintseva, Kazakh tennis is represented in Cincinnati by Rybakina and Anna Danilina (6). Together with Serbian Aleksandra Krunic (5), Anna won their opening doubles match against the American-Danish duo of Ann Li (141)/Clara Tauson (76) 6:4, 6:2.
The current WTA-1000 Cincinnati Open is the 80th edition. The oldest tournament in the USA has never changed its venue. The competition is held on outdoor hard courts in Mason, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. The prize fund for the women's Cincinnati Open 2026 is $7.43 million.
Over the years, the tournament has been won by Americans Lindsay Davenport, Serena Williams, Belgian Kim Clijsters, Russian Maria Sharapova, and other stars.
Defending champion Iga Swiatek (5) defeated Colombian Emiliana Arango (95) 6:3, 6:0 in the opening round, then beat Maria Sakkari (32) of Greece 4:6, 6:1, 6:1.
Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (1), whom Rybakina is trying to catch in the WTA rankings, defeated Australian Talia Gibson (65) 6:2, 7:6 (7:2) in her first match.