Like an underdog? Meet Sara Bejlek, the Cincinnati Open giant killer
Sara Bejlek has been a giant killer in her Cincinnati breakthrough, defeating two former Cincinnati Open champs and four seeded players.
Cincinnati Open giant killer Sara Bejlek, a 20-year-old from South Moravia, has been making waves with her impressive performances at the 2026 tournament. The World No. 35 has shown remarkable determination by defeating four seeded players in just seven days. Her biggest victory came on Aug. 19 when she defeated World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, the 2024 Cincinnati Open champion, in straight sets.
Bejlek's success has not gone unnoticed, as she has attracted double-digit reporters during her media appearances. Despite her raw and emotional playing style, Bejlek remains focused on her own game, drawing strength from her team. She is the first player since 2009 to beat four WTA 1000 champions en route to a WTA 1000 quarterfinal, making her a true underdog success story.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.