Pegula beats Anisimova in Cincinnati quarterfinals

Jessica Pegula defeated fellow American Amanda Anisimova in a tense three-set tiebreak on Thursday, August 20, 2026, to advance to the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open. The world No. 3 secured the victory with a score of 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(4) in a match that lasted two hours and 14 minutes, decided by a final set tiebreak after a dramatic back-and-forth contest at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.

The quarterfinal saw momentum swing between the two compatriots. Pegula, the No. 3 seed, took a tight first set before Anisimova, seeded ninth, roared back to win the second set 6-2. The decisive third set saw Pegula surge to an early 3-0 lead, only for Anisimova to fight back and reach a 6-5 advantage. Pegula held her nerve to force the tiebreak, where she ultimately prevailed 7-4. The match was remarkably close, with Pegula winning just one more point than Anisimova across the entire contest, 95 to 94.

A significant moment occurred during the second set when Pegula appeared to struggle physically. She took a medical timeout, and during the delay, her coach was heard urging her to think about the long term. Pegula continued playing after the break. Anisimova struck 36...