Amanda Anisimova had to work hard for her place in the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open, edging Alex Eala in a demanding third-round contest that swung in both directions.

The match opened with immediate tension, as the first four games of the opening set took 22 minutes to complete. From there, the pace only increased in a meeting that remained close enough to feel in the balance for long stretches.

Eala claimed the first set 6-4, putting Anisimova under pressure early. The American responded with greater composure in the next two sets, turning the match around with a 6-4, 6-2 finish to move on.

After completing the comeback, Anisimova used her on-court interview to acknowledge both her opponent and the support in the stands. Speaking on the Cincinnati Open’s main court, Anisimova said: “I know Alex is such a great player and such a fighter. I knew it was gonna be a really tough match.

“There was quite a bit of support for me tonight so I really appreciate that, because I know how loved Alex is… And for good reason. But I really appreciated it because I felt like I needed a pick me up in this match because it’s past my bed time.”

That line was reflected in the match itself, as she was seen drinking a luminous liquid that appeared to be beer. Lindsay Davenport and Brett Haber questioned whether it was alcoholic, suggesting it could also be cider vinegar, although the wider view was that it was a Red Bull.

Whatever the drink was, it seemed to help Anisimova finish strongly. She now meets Linda Noskova in round four, and the result already marks new ground for her at the tournament.

Before 2026, Anisimova had never reached the fourth round in her previous three Cincinnati Open appearances. She had exited in the second round twice and the third round twice, so this run represents a clear step forward.

The American is still seeking her first WTA Tour title of 2026, and this event offers a chance to change that. She also needed a strong showing in Cincinnati to stay ahead of Marta Kostyuk in the WTA Tour top 10 race. In the live rankings, Anisimova is world No 10, 608 points clear of 11th-placed Kostyuk.

Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal from Cincinnati was first described as a cautionary move, but his absence has since raised broader questions about whether he will be fit for the US Open. The world No 1 pulled out of the ATP Masters 1000 event with a knee issue and has not played competitive tennis since winning Wimbledon in the second week of July.

He was scheduled to use Cincinnati as his only warm-up event before New York, so missing that stop immediately drew attention. Sinner addressed the decision directly when he confirmed he would not compete.

“My right knee has been bothering me, and even though we have been working hard with my medical team, I have to accept that I’m not ready to compete yet,” said Sinner, as he confirmed he would not play in Cincinnati.

The 2024 US Open champion had recently shared practice clips on social media, suggesting he was increasing his workload. Yet those updates have stopped in recent days, and reports now indicate that a call on his New York plans could be close.

Italian outlets say Sinner is due to complete a fitness test in the coming days after a series of checks at the J Medical Centre in Turin, which is linked to Serie A soccer giants Juventus. To have any realistic chance of entering the US Open, he will need to spend time on court at a high intensity and prove he can handle several sets.

Former British No 1 Greg Rusedski remains doubtful about the timeline. “Well, if he’s not in New York early in the week before the tournament starts, I don’t see him playing,” said Rusedski on his podcast.

Sinner would need to travel to New York next week to acclimatise and prepare if he intends to compete, meaning a decision on his participation in the final Grand Slam of 2026 should arrive within the next three or four days. After turning 25 on Sunday, his immediate hope is a swift recovery and another chance to add to the Wimbledon title he won last month.

Coco Gauff had to work for her place in the third round of the Cincinnati Open, recovering from a slow start to beat Liudmila Samsonova in three sets.

The American dropped the opening set 6-2 before turning the match around with a 6-4, 6-1 response in the next two sets. It was another example of the resilience she has shown during the North American hardcourt swing, where her form has continued to build.

Gauff had already reached the semi-finals of the Canadian Open before falling to Elena Rybakina in three sets, and that run suggested she is edging closer to her first WTA title of the year. Her latest comeback against Samsonova only reinforced that view.

It was Gauff’s 11th comeback win of 2026, more than any other player on the WTA Tour. According to OptaAce, she stands ahead of Jessica Pegula on 10, Anastasia Potapova on 9, and Mirra Andreeva and Elena Rybakina on 8 apiece. That record says as much about her competitiveness as it does about her ability to recover when matches begin to slip away.

There is still room for improvement, particularly if one argues she should not need to find herself in those positions so often. Even so, her refusal to accept defeat remains one of her defining traits. As the draft notes, “Gauff never knows when she’s beaten and that is simply something you can’t teach a tennis player.”

Her serve is also progressing with each event, which adds to the sense that she is moving back toward the top of the WTA Tour. She is currently world No 4 in the live rankings and must be viewed as one of the leading contenders for both Cincinnati and the US Open.

Next up is Ann Li in the third round. Gauff has not lost to her on the WTA Tour, having beaten her at an ITF event in Arizona in 2019, at the Berlin Open in 2022, and at the Madrid Open in 2025. Another win would send her into the fourth round against either Marie Bouzkova or Iva Jovic.