Cincinnati Open 2026 Day 7 Preview
Day 7 at the Cincinnati Open ramps up the intensity as the tournament transitions into the third round of singles action. With top seeds aiming for the round of 16, a stacked Order of Play features multi-time Grand Slam champions, fierce all-American showdowns, and the most anticipated doubles reunion in years.
Here are the key storylines and featured matches to watch on Monday.
1. Serena & Venus Williams Reunite in Prime Time
The headline spectacle of Day 7 arrives during the Grandstand night session (not before 7:00 PM) when Serena and Venus Williams step onto the court together. Playing as wildcards, the 14-time Grand Slam doubles champions and three-time Olympic gold medalists take on the pairing of Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns.
This marks the legendary duo’s first competitive doubles match together since the 2022 US Open. Fans on Grandstand will witness pure tennis royalty as the iconic sisters reignite their team chemistry in Cincinnati.
2. Heavyweight Women’s Third Round Action
P&G Center Court hosts three high-profile WTA third-round clashes throughout the day:
- Iga Swiatek (7) vs. Maria Sakkari (29/WC): Defending champion Swiatek opens Center Court action at 11:00 AM against wildcard Sakkari. Fresh off her opening-round victory, Swiatek aims to keep her title defense momentum alive against the dangerous Greek star.
- Elena Rybakina (2) vs. Magdalena Frech: Not before 12:30 PM, world No. 2 Rybakina takes center stage against Poland’s Frech. Rybakina continues her quest for both the Cincinnati trophy and the WTA top spot.
- Alexandra Eala (17) vs. Amanda Anisimova (9): Anchoring the Center Court night session (not before 8:30 PM), fast-rising 21-year-old Eala collides with 9th seed Anisimova. Eala, coming off her triumph in Washington, D.C., faces a stern test against the hard-hitting American in a marquee clash of young power players.
3. Top Men’s Seeds & Young Stars Hit Center Stage
The ATP singles draw brings thrilling matchups as top seeds look to book their quarterfinal paths:
- Alexander Zverev (1) vs. Terence Atmane: Top seed Zverev headlines the Center Court night session (not before 7:00 PM) against French qualifier Atmane. Zverev looks to maintain his dominant form against the dangerous left-hander.
- Rafael Jodar (12) vs. Alejandro Tabilo (22): Spanish teenager Jodar continues his meteoric rise as he faces Chilean lefty Tabilo on Center Court following the afternoon WTA matches.
- Alex de Minaur (5) vs. Arthur Fery (32): Fifth seed de Minaur headlines day-session play on Grandstand against Great Britain’s Fery.
4. All-American Showdown on Grandstand
Beyond the Williams sisters, American tennis fans have another huge matchup to follow.
At 3:00 PM on Grandstand, 3rd seed Jessica Pegula square off against 25th seed Emma Navarro. With both players featuring in the upper echelon of the women’s game, this third-round battle promises high-intensity baseline rallies. Right after the Williams sisters’ doubles match, 18th seed Tommy Paul rounds out Grandstand action against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo.
Day 7 Key Order of Play
| Court | Time (Local) | Match | Event / Round |
| P&G Center Court | 11:00 AM | Iga Swiatek (7) vs. Maria Sakkari (29/WC) | Women’s R3 |
| P&G Center Court | Not Before 12:30 PM | Magdalena Frech vs. Elena Rybakina (2) | Women’s R3 |
| P&G Center Court | Followed By | Rafael Jodar (12) vs. Alejandro Tabilo (22) | Men’s R3 |
| P&G Center Court | Not Before 7:00 PM | Alexander Zverev (1) vs. Terence Atmane | Men’s R3 |
| P&G Center Court | Not Before 8:30 PM | Alexandra Eala (17) vs. Amanda Anisimova (9) | Women’s R3 |
| Grandstand | Followed By (11 AM Start) | Arthur Fery (32) vs. Alex de Minaur (5) | Men’s R3 |
| Grandstand | Not Before 3:00 PM | Emma Navarro (25) vs. Jessica Pegula (3) | Women’s R3 |
| Grandstand | Not Before 7:00 PM | M. Kostyuk / P. Stearns vs. S. Williams / V. Williams (WC) | Women’s Doubles R2 |
| Grandstand | Followed By | Tommy Paul (18) vs. Adolfo Daniel Vallejo | Men’s R3 |
| Tony Trabert Stadium 3 | Followed By (11 AM Start) | Jiri Lehecka (9) vs. Arthur Fils (21) | Men’s R3 |
