MASON − Wanting to find an underdog story to follow at the 2026 Cincinnati Open?
Say hello toSara Bejlek, a 20-year-old from South Moravia wine country (Znojmo) in the Czech Republic (though she did move to Prague when she was 15).
Bejlek, the World No. 35, has been the giant killer at the Cincinnati Open. She has won five matches over the last seven days at the Cincinnati Open, beating four seeded players. That includes back-to-back wins over former Cincinnati Open champions.
On Wednesday, Aug. 19, she shocked World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (2024 Cincinnati Open champion) in straight sets to reach her first-ever WTA 1000 quarterfinal. On Friday, Aug. 21, she rallied from a set down to defeat WTA No. 20 seed Madison Keys (2019 Cincinnati Open winner)
3-6, 6-4, 7-5 (5) on Center Court.
A few hours after her match, Bejlek entered the media zone to find double-digit reporters waiting for her. Such is life when you keep advancing in the bracket of a WTA 1000.
"I keep believing," Bejlek said. "My team was helping me a lot mentally. I was trying to focus on myself, no matter what was happening on the other side of the court."
How does Bejlek describe herself?
"Crazy. Emotional. Careful," she said.
Those traits come out in her play. On a sun-splashed Friday quarterfinal, Bejlek rode the peaks and valleys of a three-set thriller on Center Court against a seasoned WTA veteran. Bejlek is not afraid to show her emotions on the court, good or bad. It's either a stern pumped fist after a point or a disgusted facial expression (sometimes while doing the splits) − there's no in between.
Bejlek was able to dig deep against Keys. She dropped the first set 6-3, then trailed in the second set 3-1 before winning five of the next six games to force a third set. In the final set, Bejlek was in control before a slew of unforced errors and winners by Keys brought the match back to a coin flip. In the tie break, Keys led 5-4 but lost back-to-back points on serve when her returns crashed into the net.
Bejlek took advantage, delivering a dagger lefty forehand that Keys couldn't handle. She ran toward the net all smiles with her arms stretched to the heavens. Her wild week continues as she becomes the second player in 17 years to beat four WTA 1000 champions en route to a WTA 1000 semifinal.
Bejlek's breakthrough moment 🥹@SBejlek | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/TlPnsFDhYR
— Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) August 21, 2026
How crazy has it been? It's hard to balance the feeling of an underdog run to the semifinals while trying to stay level-headed. Bejlek was asked if this is the best week of her life.
"In this moment, I don't truly know. I'm trying to focus on every match," she said. "Yeah, I guess so."
Close enough. At this point, Bejlek hopes the chaos continues, even if she's not the favorite on paper or from the Cincinnati crowd. The Lindner Family Tennis Center was pulling for the American Keys on Friday. In Saturday's semifinals, it could be another fan favorite in Coco Gauff, who plays Marta Kostyuk Friday night, on the other side.
Bejlek is the only player in the WTA semifinals without a 1000-level championship to her name. Iga Swiatek has 12, Jessica Pegula has 4, Gauff has 3 and Kostyuk has 1. She doesn't have the trophies, but she has an ever-growing belief as her name moves further and further in the bracket.
"It's increasing during this season. We had a big talk with my team a couple weeks ago. Since that moment, I think it's going quite well. I'm getting better at believing in myself," Bejlek said. "I'm getting this confidence and it's growing at the moment."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Like an underdog? Meet Sara Bejlek, the Cincinnati Open giant killer
