Cincinnati Women’s Draw Notes: Sabalenka Searching for Form as Field Chases Her

In two of the last three seasons, the Cincinnati Open women’s singles champion has gone on to win the US Open in the same season (Gauff, 2023, Sabalenka, 2024). Will it happen again in 2026? The top women are lining up to assert themselves in a field that has become significantly less top-heavy in recent months, as Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina have struggled to perform in the big events. 

With the last two quarterfinals – featuring Coco Gauff, Belinda Bencic, Naomi Osaka and Rybakina – about to take place in Toronto (Tuesday), the draw for the last WTA 1000 before the US Open was held at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason. 

Scroll down for a look at the draws and some notes on what it all means 

Sabalenka’s time to shine? 

We are three-quarters through the Grand Slam season and still Aryna Sabalenka has yet to win a major. Will she regain her top tennis and make a run at the crown in New York next month?

Pundits have been trying to pinpoint what exactly has been missing from Sabalenka’s game of late. Since Miami she has gone six events without reaching a final. She has not had a streak without finals last that long since 2023, when she went from Rome through Cincinnati without a final before reaching the US Open final.

CINCY DRAW WOMEN’S TOP HALF

Her shot at redemption begins in Cincinnati, where the World No.1 sits at the top of the draw.

Here is Sabalenka projected path to a second Cincinnati title: 

• R1 bye 
• R64 qualifier or Talia Gibson 
• R32 [31] Donna Vekic 
• R16 [16] Alexandrova or [23] Krejcikova 
• QF [8] Svitolina or [11] Osaka 
• SF [4] Gauff 
• F [2] Rybakina 

Note that Sabalenka may have to go on a revenge tour to get to the semis. She could face Ekaterina Alexandrova, who defeated her in Toronto, in the round of 16, and then she could face Naomi Osaka, who knocked her out of Wimbledon, in the quarters. 

Sabalenka, at 38-7 on the season, has cooled down considerably since she won the Indian Wells and Miami double. She’s defending quarterfinal points in Cincinnati, where she lost to Elena Rybakina last year. 

CINCY DRAW WOMEN’S BOTTOM HALF

Swiatek’s defense? 

Iga Swiatek has looked excellent on the hard courts in Toronto. She’s already into the semifinals, and the momentum should bode well for her title defense in the Queen city. The Pole, tucked into the bottom quarter, opens with either Venus Williams or a qualifier after her first-round bye, and could face 29th-seeded Maria Sakkari in the third round. She’s slated to face Belinda Bencic in the round of 16, if the seeds hold, then second-seeded Rybakina in the quarterfinals. 

A tough draw. 

Third-seeded Jessica Pegula, always a threat to go deep, anchors the upper section of the lower half. Alexandra Eala, Linda Noskova, Amanda Anisimova and Sorana Cirstea are also in that quarter.