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.

Alex Eala’s run at the 2026 Cincinnati Open came to an end in the third round, but the Filipina still left the event with a meaningful points haul and a stronger ranking outlook.

The world No. 20 fell 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to 10th-ranked Amanda Anisimova in a contest that lasted two hours and 28 minutes and finished shortly before 1am on Tuesday morning in Cincinnati. Eala had made Anisimova work from the opening stages, taking the first set after an hour and five minutes. She recovered from a break down at 3-4 and also came through a 20-minute game while serving at 2-2.

Anisimova, the ninth seed, took the lone break of the second set at 3-3 to level the match. In the decider, Eala moved 2-0 ahead after a break, but the American then won six straight games to complete the comeback and move into the fourth round.

For Eala, the tournament still represented another step in a growing hard-court season. She was making her debut at the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati after a second-round victory over Elena-Gabriela Ruse, having received a first-round bye. Before arriving in Cincinnati, she had reached the fourth round at the WTA 1000 event in Toronto. Earlier in the North American summer hard-court swing, she also won her maiden title at the WTA 500 in Washington DC.

By reaching the third round at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, the 17th seed earned 65 WTA ranking points. That lifted her points total to 2,281 and moved her two places to a projected career-best No. 18 in the Live WTA Rankings.

Eala also banked $47,605 in prize money for her third-round finish in Mason, Ohio.

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.