The biggest story at the 2026 Cincinnati Open this past week has been the progression of the 20-year-old Czech sensation Sara Bejlek. A year ago we saw Alex Eala of the Philippines get to the Miami Open semifinals. Now at another WTA 1000 series event in the United States, we have seen another unexpected player reach the final four.
It is who Bejlek has beaten that deserves headlines. She defeated two-time grand slam finalist and fellow Czech Republic star Karolina Pliskova 6-0, 6-2 in the first round, another Czech star in two-time grand slam champion Barbora Krejcikova 7-6, 6-4 in the second round, the 16th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the third round, world number one Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, 7-6, 6-4 in the fourth round, and 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys of the United States 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 in the quarterfinals.
Bejlek is ranked 35th in the world, and has all of a sudden become a name tennis fans need to keep an eye on despite her lack of grand slam success. She has only won two grand slam matches–in the first round of the 2025 French Open (upset Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, 6-3, 6-1) and the first round of the 2026 French Open (beat 2017 United States Open champion Sloane Stephens of the United States 6-3, 6-2).
Next up for Bejlek will be another tough opponent. It will be two-time grand slam champion Coco Gauff of the United States in the semifinals on Saturday.
