Another Round! There was no need for a Red Bull break for Amanda Anisimova this time! Last year's US Open runner-up puts together a very straightforward (and highly impressive) win over reigning Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, 6-1, 6-4, to reach the quarterfinals in Cincinnati.

Steady in the States Elena Rybakina has never made it past the 4th round at the US Open. Could 2026 be the year she breaks the cycle and goes deep? The current world #2 continues to show fearsome form on the hardcourts, defeating Diana Shnaider, 6-4, 6-4, to reach the quarterfinals in Cincinnati.

Tommy, Can You Hear Me? 👂 Because you deserve to hear some praise today! 🙌 Still in search of the form that took him to a career high #8 in the world last summer, the American does preeeeetty dang well today in Cincinnati, disposing of Alexander Zverev, 4-6, 7-6⁶, 6-4.

Tirante is the Truth Have you seen Thiago Tirante's forehand? It's a massive weapon when he flattens it out and goes for broke. And the past coupla weeks, the Argentine has been going for broke quite a lot... and it's paying off. Tirante is through to the quarterfinals.

On She Goes! Ain't it funny how things change? Just a few weeks ago we had folks predicting the end of Iga Swiatek's time at the top of the game. Now, she's one of the favorites to win the US Open. 🤷‍♂️ Last week's champ in Toronto sweeps past Diane Parry, 6-3, 6-3.

Nick Kyrgios, who has had a lot to say about other player's test results in the past, busted for cocaine. www.itia.tennis/news/sanctio...

Nakashima Shimmies Through He was up 5-2 in the first set. Then lost it in a tiebreaker. He was down match points in the 2nd set. Then won it in a tiebreaker. And, in the end, Brandon Nakashima runs away with the final frame against Daniil Medvedev, winning 6-7³, 7-6⁴, 6-1.

Still a Fighter! It's been a minute since Sloane Stephens challenged a top 15 opponent. But, after taking out #25 Anastasia Potapova in the opening round, the former US Open champion puts up a formidable fight against #11 Marta Kostyuk before the Ukrainian wins, 7-5, 7-5.

Mirra Cracks the Code After three straight losses to top 50 opponents, Mirra Andreeva finally gets back on the ball in Cincinnati. The reigning Roland-Garros champion avoids a complicated 3rd set against Janice Tjen, wrapping up the win, 6-1, 7-6⁵, to reach the 4th round.

Fritz in Focus The highest-ranked American left in the draw keeps his home soil win streak alive with a victory over up-and-coming Spaniard Daniel Merida. Fritz, who's now won 7 matches in a row in the US, defeats Merida, 6-3, 6-4, to keep moving forward in Cincinnati.

Italian Iced Lorenzo Musetti scores his most impressive hardcourt victory in quite a while, sweeping past juat-announced US Open wildcard Michael Zheng, 6-1, 6-3. With the win, Musetti sets up a 4th round showdown with Jaime Faria or Adam Walton.

Keys Cruises After a scratchy few matches, Madison Keys well and truly shows shows up today in Cincinnati. The 2019 champion rushes past #33 seed Katerina Siniakova, 6-1, 6-3, to set up a 4th round clash with Wang Xiyu, who advances after Elina Svitolina withdraws.

Portugal, The Man Quietly, Nuno Borges is having a pretty great summer. After reaching the round of 16 in Montreal, the Portuguese #1 has kept the heat on high in Cincinnati, following up his win over Francisco Cerúndolo with a 6-3, 6-4 dispatch of Andrey Rublev.

It's Jaime Time! The third time's the charm for Jaime Faria, who scores his first top 10 win after two previous attempts. The Portuguese qualifier stuns Montreal champion Ben Shelton, 6-3, 6-4, rattling off the final 5 games of the match to snatch the upset win.

The Sloane Rangers Ride Again! Slowly but surely, Sloane Stephens has gotten a good bit of her mojo back this summer The former US Open champ pulls off her first top 25 win in over two years, sweeping past Anastasia Potapova, 6-2, 6-4... now one win from re-entering the top 200.

Next Level Learner Last week, Learner Tien became the youngest American to make a Masters 1000 semifinal since Andy Roddick in 2002. Awesome accomplishment! But, just a few days later, the 20yo is back on court gunning for his next big feat, taking down Sebastian Baez in Cincy.

Oh Reeeeeally? Daniel Merida has gotten the hang of this "winning matches at the Masters 1000 level" thing. The Spaniard pulls off an eyebrow raising victory over the #30 seed Zizou Bergs, easing to a 6-3, 6-2 victory after his quarterfinal run in Montreal last week.

Tested But Triumphant I had a feeling Talia Gibson might be a tricky assignment for Aryna Sabalenka in round 2. (The Aussie made the quarterfinals at Indian Wells and the 4th round at Miami this year.) But, the current world #1 keeps it a tidy 2-set victory, winning 6-2, 7-6².

Keys Unlocks the Win After a decidedly lopsided loss to Marta Kostyuk in Toronto, Madison Keys troubles seemed to be continuing in Cincinnati. But, the former Australian Open champion pulls this together in time to defeat Daria Snigur, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Crisis Averted Here's a fact you might not know; Alex Michelsen won his first two matches against Taylor Fritz. And Fritz had to fight off a match point to get his first win over Michelsen on his way to the title in Washington DC. Today, Fritz ties up the H2H pretty comfortably, winning 6-3, 6-4.

No Rust on Felix He's been out of action since his epic, all-time longest quarterfinal match with Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon And, I mean... you'd be tired, too! That thing lasted 5 hours and 15 minutes! But, in a particularly tricky first match back, he defeats Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-2, 7-5.

Brandon's Back at It He came up short in Montreal (which he prefers to Toronto, I'm sure you've heard... like it's a big deal), but it was his first ATP Masters final! Let's celebrate that! Just a couple days later, the American earns another win with a 6-1, 7-5 decision over Aleks Kovacevic.

Seesaw Success It took 3hours, 14 minutes, and about 15 swings of momentum... but Janice Tjen is through to the 3rd round. Seeded at a WTA 1000 event for the first time, the Indonesian comes from a break down to win the 1st set, serves for the match in the 2nd, then holds on to win in 3.

Tiptoeing Forward Joao Fonseca notches another Brazilian "first since" title with his latest win in Cincinnati. The 19yo Brazilian defeats Botic van de Zandschulp, 6-4, 7-6², to become the first Brazilian win 10 Masters 1000 matches in a single year since Guga Kuerten in 2003.

Triple Exposure Lorenzo Musetti's 2026 summer hardcourt swing has certainly been consistent. The Italian made the 3rd round at Washington and Montreal... losing to Rafael Jodar both times. With Jodar nowhere in sight this time, he's back to the 3rd round in Cincinnati.

Iga on a Roll The defending champion gets off to a flying start in Cincinnati. Fresh off her title run in Toronto, Iga Swiatek makes relatively short work of Colombian qualifier Emiliana Arango, winning 6-3, 6-0. Swiatek next faces Maria Sakkari in the 3rd round.

Asked Emiliana Arango how her family is doing after the 7.5 earthquake that has devastated parts of Colombia. For more bits and bobs, sub or bookmark the FD newsletter: forty-deuce.ghost.io/chili-bites-...

Meddy, Player One At the start of the year, it looked like Daniil Medvedev might be the one to fill the void if Carlos Alcaraz and/or Jannik Sinner stumbled. But, it's been a bumpy ride ever since the tour hit the clay. Looking to recapture his mojo, Daniil gets the win today.

Zheng Zaps Ugo If Michael Zheng doesn't get a damn US Open wildcard, the tennis gods (or just the USTA) are crazy. The 2-time NCAA champion, who has qualified into the main draw at all 3 slams this year, notches another big win for his growing resume, routining Ugo Humbert, 6-4, 6-3.

Rybakina Recharged She said she ran out of gas in Thursday's final against Iga Swiatek in Toronto. But Elena Rybakina finds what she needs to get back to the winner's circle three days later in Cincinnati, defeating Taylor Townsend, 6-3, 6-4, to reach round 3.