Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff all advanced to the third round of the Cincinnati Open on a busy Sunday marked by scorching temperatures in Ohio.

Despite temperatures sitting above 32 degrees Celsius and swirling winds adding another difficult element into the mix, each of the big names in action was able to advance.

Sabalenka's booming service game helped her register a 6-2 7-6 (7-2) victory over Talia Gibson, in which she let five match points slip away before eventually getting the job done.

The world number one fired in 13 aces among her 30 winners, including four straight aces in her opening service game of the second set.

Sabalenka had been serving for the match at 6-5 in the second set, only for Gibson to break in a six-deuce game and force a tie-break, though the Australian was no match for the top seed in the breaker.

"That was a tricky end of the match, and I feel she pulled out a really strong level at the very end," Sabalenka said in her post-match press conference. 

"My energy really dropped in that last game, which was very awkward. I'm happy that even though she brought me back, I stayed calm and was able to pull out really great tennis in the tie-break."

Sabalenka will face Wang Xinyu in the next round, while 2025 Cincinnati champion Iga Swiatek will take on Maria Sakkari after defeating Emiliana Arango 6-3 6-0.

Swiatek has now won 41 sets by a 6-0 scoreline at WTA 1000 level in her career. Since the format's 1990 introduction, only Martina Hingis (52) and Serena Williams (50) have won more.

Round 2 is wrapped, and there was no shortage of drama #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/C9S4waqAhg

— wta (@WTA) August 17, 2026

Things were also straightforward for Elena Rybakina, who beat Taylor Townsend 6-3 6-4, but Gauff was tested in her 2-6 6-4 6-1 win over Liudmila Samsonova. 

Gauff clinched victory in two hours and six minutes, with a crucial break in the 10th game of the second set proving the turning point after a difficult start and a couple of rain interruptions.

"It was not the ideal first match, but it played out how I thought it would, honestly," Gauff told WTATennis.com.

"I don't think I played too well in the first and then my level started to get better and better. I think the rain delay did help, so I'm definitely grateful for that."

Comeback queen Gauff does it again

Gauff's victory was her 11th after losing the opening set at WTA level this season, which is now the outright most of any player, surpassing Jessica Pegula (10).

Gauff's eight comeback wins at WTA 1000 tournaments in 2026 are also the most of any player.

Sabalenka, meanwhile, claimed her 22nd career victory at the Cincinnati Open, a tournament she won in 2024. Madrid (25) is the only WTA 1000 event at which she has won more matches.

The world number one has also won 26 consecutive matches on hard courts against opponents ranked outside the WTA's top 50, with her last such defeat coming to eventual finalist Amanda Anisimova in the Toronto quarter-finals in 2024.

In addition to the top names, Sunday's WTA action in Cincinnati also saw wins for Elina Svitolina, who beat Tereza Valentova in three sets, and Mirra Andreeva, who overcame Oleksandra Oliynykova in two.