The 2026 Cincinnati Open is turning into a showcase for the top American stars. While Ben Shelton, who successfully defended his Canadian Open title last week, suffered an early exit, eight other American players across the men’s and women’s singles draws, including Coco Gauff, Tommy Paul, Jessica Pegula, and Taylor Fritz, have advanced to the quarterfinals. The strong showing provides plenty of encouragement for the American contingent heading into the US Open next week.
4 Women, Including Coco Gauff, Reach Cincinnati Open Quarterfinals
Coco Gauff
Gauff entered the tournament as the fourth seed. The 22-year-old, who won the Cincinnati Open in 2023 before clinching her maiden Grand Slam title in New York later that year, will be hoping for a similar run as she searches for her first title of the season.
Gauff has raised her level since Wimbledon, where she reached the semifinals. She followed that up with another semifinal appearance in Toronto last week. At the Cincinnati Open, she has recorded wins over Liudmila Samsonova, Ann Li, and Marie Bouzková to reach the quarterfinals. She now faces a stern test against Marta Kostyuk on Friday.
Madison Keys
Keys’ 2026 season has been a mixed bag, but the American will be hoping to find her best form during the North American swing. The 2019 champion is the 20th seed this year and has produced a series of resilient performances against the likes of Daria Snigur, Kateřina Siniaková, and Wang Xiyu.
She now faces 20-year-old Czech Sára Bejlek in the quarterfinals. Bejlek has been one of the tournament’s surprise packages, reaching the final eight after stunning World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets in the fourth round.
Jessica Pegula
Pegula is the third seed at the WTA 1000 event. She began her campaign with a straight-sets victory over Simona Waltert in the second round before defeating compatriot Emma Navarro. The 32-year-old then survived a scare against Sorana Cîrstea on Wednesday, eventually closing out a hard-fought 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 win.
Placed in the opposite half of the draw from Coco Gauff and Madison Keys, Pegula is chasing her third title of the season. She will also be hoping to carry her Cincinnati momentum into the US Open, where she reached the final in 2024 after finishing runner-up in Cincinnati.
Amanda Anisimova
Anisimova has endured a challenging 2026 campaign, marked by injury setbacks and early exits. The American will be hoping to rewrite her fortunes on home soil ahead of her runner-up finish to defend at the US Open. She has delivered some standout performances in Cincinnati, defeating Zeynep Sönmez and fighting back against an in-form Alexandra Eala before dispatching Wimbledon champion Linda Nosková in straight sets.
However, a stern test against Pegula awaits the 24-year-old in the quarterfinals. Anisimova trails 0-5 in their head-to-head record and will be looking to finally end her losing streak against her compatriot.
4 Men, Including Tommy Paul, Reach Cincinnati Open Quarterfinals
Tommy Paul
Paul, the 18th seed, has advanced to his first Cincinnati Open quarterfinal. He opened his campaign with a resilient victory over Hubert Hurkacz before fighting back from a set down to defeat Adolfo Daniel Vallejo. The American then produced another impressive comeback on Wednesday, overcoming top seed Alexander Zverev.
Paul’s 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4 victory over Zverev was particularly impressive, with the American saving a match point in the second set. The five-time tour-level champion is chasing his maiden Masters 1000 title and will face Flavio Cobolli for a place in the semifinals on Thursday.
Taylor Fritz
Fritz is the highest-ranked seed remaining in the draw. He hit the ground running during the North American swing, capturing the title at the Mubadala DC Open. The transition to Canada proved challenging for the American, but he has returned to winning ways in Cincinnati.
The sixth seed has conceded just seven games in each of his three matches against Alex Michelsen, Daniel Mérida Aguilar, and Christopher O’Connell. He is the only former Masters 1000 champion remaining in the men’s draw and finds himself in the opposite half of the draw from Tommy Paul.
Brandon Nakashima
Nakashima is hitting his stride with the US Open fast approaching. The 25-year-old produced the best Masters 1000 result of his career by reaching the final of the Canadian Open last week. His all-American title clash with Shelton was the first at a Masters 1000 event since the 2003 Cincinnati Open final between Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish.
Nakashima has carried that momentum into Cincinnati, reaching the quarterfinals with wins over Aleksandar Kovacevic, Daniil Medvedev, and Nuno Borges. He now faces fellow American Fritz for a place in the semifinals on Friday.
Frances Tiafoe
Tiafoe has managed a surprising turnaround after retiring hurt at the Canadian Open. The American underwent a procedure to remove a cyst from his right wrist in the days that followed but has already returned to action, beating Lorenzo Sonego, Learner Tien, and second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in Cincinnati.
The 17th seed, who reached the final in 2024, has confirmed a clash against Lorenzo Musetti. He is also positioned in the same half of the draw as Taylor Fritz and Brandon Nakashima.
Among the remaining American players, Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova, and Tommy Paul will be in action on Thursday, August 20, while the rest of the American contingent will take the court on Friday.
