World number one Aryna Sabalenka dominated China’s Wang Xinyu 6-1, 6-3 to cruise into the Cincinnati Masters fourth round, while Daniil Medvedev suffered a shock defeat to Brandon Nakashima. Sabalenka took only 20 minutes on Tuesday to breeze through the first set against her 36th-ranked opponent and began the second set with a break of serve. She kept up the pressure in the second set, with Wang double-faulting on the top seed’s first match point after 54 minutes.
The victory marked the 45th in a row for Sabalenka at the Masters 1000 level. She’s a tough opponent,” Sabalenka said. I really trusted myself and went for my shots.
I was able to stay focused and be in every point.” Sabalenka next plays Czech Sara Bejlek, a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 winner over Ekaterina Alexandrova. World No.1 things 🤯#CincyTennis | @SabalenkaA pic.twitter.com/trOsZ4uSSC — Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) August 19, 2026 Fourth seed Coco Gauff needed to battle after a sizzling first set in a 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) victory over fellow American Ann Li. The 2023 champion had it all her own way in the opening set against her 29th-ranked foe, winning in 30 minutes.
The pair exchanged early breaks in the second on the way to a tie-breaker, in which Gauff seized a 4-1 lead and won on her third match point. The Indonesian challenger, ranked 37, was bowled over in the first set but made Andreeva work to finally advance. She made fewer mistakes – it turned into a match of mentality and physicality,” Andreeva said.
Eighth seed Elina Svitolina was forced to withdraw before her match against Wang Xiyu with an ankle injury. Canada’s second-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime eliminated Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo 7-5, 6-1 in 90 minutes. You can prepare all you want, but until you step onto the court you can’t find your right adjustments.
Then you feel comfortable.” Washington winner and fifth seed Taylor Fritz fired eight aces in defeating Daniel Merida 6-3, 6-4 in 83 minutes. The Spaniard made 25 unforced errors as Fritz booked a fourth-round match against Australian Chris O’Connell, who is 0-3 against the American. Last week’s Montreal finalist Nakashima came from the brink to upset fourth seed Medvedev 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-1.
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