The 2026 Cincinnati Open matchups shifted Wednesday, as Japanese tennis favorite Naomi Osaka pulled out of the WTA 1000 event's main draw, citing fatigue after her Canadian Open run.
Her withdrawal thins one of the tournament's marquee quarters, where world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka had been on a potential final-eight collision course with Osaka.
With Naomi Osaka Out, Coco Gauff & Aryna Sabalenka Top Cincinnati Draw
Sabalenka still anchors a section featuring No. 8 seed Elina Svitolina and 2019 champion Madison Keys. One quarter over, Coco Gauff heads a group that includes recent French Open winner Mirra Andreeva.
With Osaka out, attention swings to Gauff, who could face No. 10 seed Marta Kostyuk in a projected quarterfinal. The two last met in Doha in February 2025, and Gauff holds a 3-2 head-to-head edge. Sabalenka's path, meanwhile, opens up in Osaka's absence.
Still, fans can expect plenty of first-round drama at this year's tournament. A Yulia Putintseva vs Liudmila Samsonova match stands out, since the winner will face Gauff, and Putintseva stunned Gauff at the 2024 Cincinnati Open. Elsewhere, Czech veterans Sara Bejlek and 2016 champion Karolina Pliskova are set to collide.
Main-draw play begins Thursday, August 13th on Tennis Channel.
