BOB LARSON’S TENNIS NEWS
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Copyright © 2026. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.
Friday, August 14, 2026
PRO TOUR NEWS — WOMEN
****** PUBLICATION NOTE ******
There are a couple of really late matches still being played at Cincinnati. But the Canadian Open is over, and it appears Cincinnati won’t end until after midnight. We’re assuming you’re more interested in the Big Matches from Canada. So we’re sending this now, and will cover the remaining Cincinnati matches tomorrow.
****** EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ******
* Swiatek beats Rybakina routinely to break title drought
****** TODAY’S WOMEN’S NEWS ******
Canadian Open
Singles – Final: (7) I Swiatek def. (2) E Rybakina 6-2 6-3
An hour and fifteen minutes. Iga Swiatek won four-sevenths of the points. She broke four times and was never broken. We have to think Elena Rybakina was tired, but still… wow.
It’s career title #26 for Swiatek, but her first since Seoul 2025, and her first 1000 since Cincinnati 2025. For the moment, it takes her back to #5. Rybakina remains #2.
Of course, the next big question is where both Swiatek and Rybakina will stand after Cincinnati comes off — an especially big question for Swiatek, since she is the defending champion there. Here is how we show the Top Twelve “zero round” Cincinnati rankings:
1..(1) SABALENKA………..8465
2..(2) RYBAKINA…………7936
3..(3) PEGULA…………..6625
4..(4) GAUFF……………5714
5..(6) M ANDREEVA……….5333
6..(8) NOSKOVA………….5016
7..(7) Muchova………….4983
8..(9) SVITOLINA………..4634
9..(5) SWIATEK………….4429
10.(10) ANISIMOVA………..4328
11.(11) KOSTYUK………….3775
12.(12) BENCIC…………..2995
For Rybakina, that means she’s 529 points behind Aryna Sabalenka — meaning she needs at least a final to earn the #1 ranking, and probably a title, and even that won’t be enough if she faces Sabalenka in the Cincinnati final. And Rybakina looked tired in her match. It doesn’t seem likely. Indeed, if she looks at those numbers, we could imagine her bailing on Cincinnati.
Swiatek really ought to play, though: Notice her at #9 in safe points, and in real danger of falling to #10 (although probably not lower). With this win on her record, she will surely be thinking about a US Open title. She really, really will want to be one of the top eight seeds — and that will take at least a quarterfinal, and probably a semifinal. Maybe a final. No rest for the weary….
Doubles – Final: (1) Siniakova/Zhang def. (3) Errani/Melichar-Martinez 6-3 6-4
This was a 1000. You didn’t really think Nicole Melichar-Martinez was going to win it, did you?
This was the forty-ninth final of Melichar’s career. Ten of them have been 1000s or higher (Wimbledon 2018, “Cincinnati” 2020, US Open 2020, Canadian Open 2022, Cincinnati 2022, Cincinnati 2023, Cancun Championships 2023, Dubai 2024, Rome 2026, and now the 2026 Canadian Open). She has won none of them. Not one. She has nineteen titles, but all at the 500 level or lower. Astounding.
Still, she did well enough to rise to #10, and Sara Errani made it to #9.
And, to be sure, losing to Siniakova/Zhang isn’t something to be particularly ashamed of. It’s career title #38 for Katerina Siniakova, #20 for Zhang Shuai. They seem to regard each other as regular backup partners; they also won Adelaide together this year, and Guangzhou 2024 before that. Zhang now has four titles this year alone, with three different partners. She rises to #7, passing her we-think-ex partner Elise Mertens. Siniakova is up to six titles this year, two with Zhang and four with Townsend. She remains #1, by a margin that will be very hard to surpass this year:
1..(1) SINIAKOVA……….10760
2..(2) Townsend…………8845
3..(3) DABROWSKI………..8805
4..(4) Stefani………….7445
5..(5) KRUNIC…………..6950
6..(6) DANILINA…………6775
7..(8) ZHANG……………5765
8..(7) MERTENS………….5533
9.(11) ERRANI…………..5155
10.(12) MELICHAR-MARTINEZ…4950
11..(9) ROUTLIFFE………..4849
12.(10) GUO……………..4575
13.(13) MLADENOVIC……….4350
14.(14) Paolini………….4181
15.(15) HSIEH……………4055
Cincinnati
Singles – First Round: (WC) L Boisson def. A Krueger 6-3 6-2
So much for that mini-upsurge Ashlyn Krueger had earlier this year. This is only the fourth WTA hardcourt win of Lois Boisson’s career, and her first since Beijing 2025.
Singles – First Round: .Bucsa def. P Udvardy 6-2 1-6 7-5
That has to feel really good for Cristina Bucsa. Her last WTA win was at Indian Wells. She’d lost eight in a row since then.
Singles – First Round: M Frech def. A Ruzic 6-2 7-5
Magdalena Frech remains barely in the US Open seed hunt; this puts her around #40.
Singles – First Round: A Kalinina def. D Vidmanova 4-6 6-4 6-2
Anhelina Kalinina is no fan of hardcourt, but she has experience in adjusting her game. Darija Vidmanova doesn’t seem to have much skill in that department yet.
Singles – First Round: T Maria def. D Yastremska 6-1 6-2
Dayana Yastremska must really be a mess if she’s losing routinely to Tatjana Maria on a hardcourt. She hasn’t won back-to-back WTA matches since Brisbane, though she did win the Parma 125 in May.
Singles – First Round: D Parry def. (WC) C Dolehide 6-4 7-6(9-7)
Caroline Dolehide still has only one WTA singles win this year, and that was back at Austin.
Singles – First Round: K Rakhimova def. K Birrell 6-2 6-2
When they started play here, main draw matches were being played on five courts. This was the only one of the five to finish in straight sets. They were already behind because rain had interfered with qualifying. Rain would come later in the day, too. It may be a long week….
Singles – First Round: E Ruse def. M Linette 6-0 6-3
Magda Linette is really a mess right now; she’s lost her opener in four of her last five events.
Singles – First Round: Z Sonmez def. D Kasatkina 2-6 7-6(7-4) 6-3
A boost to Zeynep Sonmez’s Top Fifty hopes; Daria Kasatkina will remain below that.
Singles – First Round: T Townsend def. C Osorio 3-6 6-3 6-3
Last week, Taylor Townsend played singles only, no doubles, and it seemed to work. It will be interesting to see her doubles plans for this week. This appears to mean no Top Fifty spot for Camila Osorio.
Singles – First Round: S Waltert def. P Marcinko 5-7 6-4 6-2
That must be a relief for Simona Waltert — it’s her first WTA win since Rome.
****** TODAY’S FEATURE ******
KEYWORDS: No Feature Today
******** THIS WEEK IN TENNIS ********
THIS WEEK ON THE WTA:
Canadian Open/Toronto (1000/Hard). Defending Champion: Victoria Mboko
NEXT WEEK ON THE WTA:
Cincinnati (1000/Hard). Defending Champion: Iga Swiatek
************ STATS AND FACTS ************
Estimated Singles Rankings
1..(1) SABALENKA………..8670
2..(2) RYBAKINA…………8316
3..(3) PEGULA…………..6680
4..(4) GAUFF……………5919
5..(8) SWIATEK………….5419
6..(5) M ANDREEVA……….5323
7..(6) Muchova………….5048
8..(7) NOSKOVA………….5016
9..(9) SVITOLINA………..4634
10.(10) ANISIMOVA………..4353
11.(11) KOSTYUK………….3830
12.(14) BENCIC…………..2995
13.(13) OSAKA……………2846
14.(17) SHNAIDER…………2798
15.(15) Paolini………….2773
16.(16) JOVIC……………2603
17.(12) Mboko……………2520
18.(19) ALEXANDROVA………2506
19.(18) CIRSTEA………….2502
20.(20) EALA…………….2216
21.(21) KALINSKAYA……….2083
22.(24) MERTENS………….2003
23.(22) CHWALINSKA……….1984
24.(23) KEYS…………….1814
25.(27) POTAPOVA…………1781
26.(26) KREJCIKOVA……….1776
27.(25) BOUZKOVA…………1774
28.(28) NAVARRO………….1669
29.(31) LI………………1596
30.(29) OSTAPENKO………..1537
Draws
Canadian Open — Week of August 2
WINNER: Iga Swiatek
…………….3R…………..4R……….QF………..SF………F
1 Sabalenka…..(1)Sabalenka….Sabalenka
26 Ostapenko….Zhang
18 Chwalinska…Gibson
16 Alexandrova..(16)Alexandrova.Alexandrova.Alexandrova
9 Svitolina…..(9)Svitolina….Svitolina…Svitolina…Svitolina
24 Potapova…..(24)Potapova
27 Tauson…….Bartunkova
8 Anisimova…..(8)Anisimova….Anisimova
3 Pegula……..(3)Pegula…….Pegula
32 Siniakova….Rakhimova
17 Kalinskaya…(17)Kalinskaya
15 Shnaider…..(15)Shnaider….Shnaider….Shnaider
10 Kostyuk……(10)Kostyuk…..Kostyuk
19 Keys………(19)Keys
31 Vekic……..Golubic
7 Swiatek…….(7)Swiatek……Swiatek…..Swiatek…..Swiatek…Swiatek
6 Noskova…….McNally
25 Eala………(25)Eala……..Eala
21 Bouzkova…..Townsend
12 Bencic…….(12)Bencic……Bencic……Bencic
13 Jovic……..(13)Jovic
23 Navarro……Korneeva(Q)…..Korneeva
29 Sakkari……(29)Sakkari
4 Gauff………(4)Gauff……..Gauff…….Gauff…….Gauff
5 Andreeva……(5)Andreeva
30 Fernandez….(30)Fernandez…Fernandez
20 Mertens……(20)Mertens
11 Osaka……..(11)Osaka…….Osaka…….Osaka
14 Cirstea……Joint(Q)
22 Krejcikova…Samsonova…….Samsonova
28 Li………..(28)Li
2 Rybakina……(2)Rybakina…..Rybakina….Rybakina….Rybakina..Rybakina
STATUS OF SEEDS:
1 Sabalenka……lost 4R (Alexandrova)
2 Rybakina…….lost F (Swiatek)
3 Pegula………lost 4R (Shnaider)
4 Gauff……….lost SF (Rybakina)
5 Andreeva…….lost 3R (Fernandez)
6 Noskova……..lost 2R (McNally)
7 Swiatek……..WON TOURNAMENT
8 Anisimova……lost 4R (Svitolina)
9 Svitolina……lost SF (Swiatek)
10 Kostyuk…….lost 4R (Swiatek)
11 Osaka………lost QF (Rybakina)
12 Bencic……..WITHDREW from QF
13 Jovic………lost 3R (Korneeva)
14 Cirstea…….lost 2R (Joint)
15 Shnaider……lost QF (Swiate)
16 Alexandrova…lost QF (Svitolina)
17 Kalinskaya….lost 3R (Shnaider)
18 Chwalinska….lost 2R (Gibson)
19 Keys……….lost 3R (Kostyuk)
20 Mertens…….lost 3R (Osaka)
21 Bouzkova……lost 2R (Townsend)
22 Krejcikova….lost 2R (Samsonova)
23 Navarro…….lost 2R (Korneeva)
24 Potapova……lost 3R (Svitolina)
25 Eala……….lost 4R (Bencic)
26 Ostapenko…..lost 2R (Zhang)
27 Tauson……..lost 2R (Bartunkova)
28 Li…………lost 3R (Rybakina)
29 Sakkari…….lost 3R (Gauff)
30 Fernandez…..lost 4R (Osaka)
31 Vekic………lost 2R (Golubic)
32 Siniakova…..lost 2R (Rakhimova)
Cincinnati — Week of August 13
1 Sabalenka
–bye
Tagger (Q)
Gibson
Wang Xinyu
Vandewinkel (Q)
–bye
31 Vekic
23 Krejcikova
–bye
Bejlek
Ka Pliskova
Sawangkaew (Q)
Blinkova (Q)
–bye
16 Alexandrova
33 Siniakova
–bye
Bouzas Maneiro
Bondar
Snigur
Starodubtseva
–bye
20 Keys
30 Fernandez
–bye
Timofeeva
Wang Xiyu (Q)
Stoiana (Q)
Valentova
–bye
8 Svitolina
4 Gauff
–bye
Putintseva
Samsonova
Zhang
Day (Q)
–bye
28 Li
22 Bouzkova
–bye
Cocciaretto
Stefanini (Q)
Joint
Korpatsch
–bye
13 Jovic
10 Kostyuk
–bye
Kenin (WC)
Lys (LL)
Stephens (WC)
Kraus (Q)
–bye
24 Potapova
32 Tjen
–bye
Parks
Golubic
Kalieva (WC)
Oliynykova
–bye
5 M Andreeva
6 Noskova
–bye
Boulter
Volynets (WC)
Stearns
Dart (Q)
–bye
27 Tauson
17 Eala
–bye
Ruse
Linette
Kasatkina
Sonmez
–bye
9 Anisimova
15 Cirstea
–bye
Bartunkova
Charaeva (Q)
McNally
Kessler
–bye
18 Kalinskaya
25 Navarro
–bye
Vidmanova (WC)
Kalinina
Waltert
Marcinko
–bye
3 Pegula
7 Swiatek
–bye
Arango (Q)
V Williams (WC)
Rakhimova
Birrell
–bye
29 Sakkari
21 Mertens
–bye
Parry
Dolehide (WC)
Kruger
Boisson (WC)
–bye
12 Bencic
14 Shnaider
–bye
Maria
Yastremska
Bucsa
Udvardy
–bye
19 Chawlinska
26 Ostapenko
–bye
Ruzic
Frech
Townsend
Osorio
–bye
2 Rybakina
******** SCORES ********
THURSDAY
Canadian Open
Singles – Final
(7) I Swiatek def. (2) E Rybakina 6-2 6-3
Doubles – Final
(1) Siniakova/Zhang def. (3) Errani/Melichar-Martinez 6-3 6-4
Cincinnati
Singles – First Round
(WC) L Boisson def. A Krueger 6-3 6-2
C Bucsa def. P Udvardy 6-2 1-6 7-5
M Frech def. A Ruzic 6-2 7-5
A Kalinina def. D Vidmanova 4-6 6-4 6-2
T Maria def. D Yastremska 6-1 6-2
D Parry def. (WC) C Dolehide 6-4 7-6(9-7)
K Rakhimova def. K Birrell 6-2 6-2
E Ruse def. M Linette 6-0 6-3
Z Sonmez def. D Kasatkina 2-6 7-6(7-4) 6-3
T Townsend def. C Osorio 3-6 6-3 6-3
S Waltert def. P Marcinko 5-7 6-4 6-2
***
Bob LARSON — Publisher
Cort LARSON — Editor
Robert Waltz — Contributor
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