Cincinnati Open Predictions: Best Bets for Friday, August 21st, 2026

Friday marks the culmination of the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals, setting the stage for Saturday's semifinals. Here are the top tennis betting selections from William Hill.

Cincinnati Open Predictions for Friday:

• Taylor Fritz to win by more than 2.5 games (Odds: 21/20)
• Frances Tiafoe to win (Odds: 11/10)
• The match to go to a final set (Odds: 11/10)
• Sára Bejlek to win with a handicap of +3.5 games (Odds: Evens)

Taylor Fritz vs. Brandon Nakashima

Taylor Fritz has a strong track record against Brandon Nakashima this year, having defeated him twice in 2026, including a victory on his way to the title in Washington. Nakashima has shown impressive form, eliminating Daniil Medvedev in the third round and reaching the final in Montreal. However, Fritz's draw in Cincinnati has been more favorable, with this match representing his first significant challenge against a seeded opponent. While Nakashima is capable of winning, Fritz's recent head-to-head success makes him the favored pick.

Lorenzo Musetti vs. Frances Tiafoe

Lorenzo Musetti has had a smooth progression to the quarterfinals. Frances Tiafoe, on the other hand, has overcome two higher-seeded players and has a chance to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 semifinal since the 2024 Cincinnati Open. While Musetti won their most recent encounter at the 2025 French Open, Tiafoe has dominated their last two hard-court meetings, including a straight-sets victory at this event two years ago. We are impressed by Tiafoe's performance in Cincinnati following a period of disappointing results.

Coco Gauff vs. Marta Kostyuk

This will be the sixth meeting between Marta Kostyuk and Coco Gauff, but the first of 2026. The betting markets view them as closely matched, with Kostyuk being a slight underdog. Gauff has secured two consecutive efficient wins, advancing to her third WTA 1000 quarterfinal in a row. Kostyuk demonstrated resilience by overcoming Mirra Andreeva after losing the first set, and the Ukrainian is aiming for her ninth victory against a top-10 player this season. This promises to be a fiercely contested match between two top players, and we anticipate it will go the distance.

Sára Bejlek vs. Madison Keys

Elina Svitolina's withdrawal has opened a clearer path for Madison Keys. Sára Bejlek's remarkable upset win over Aryna Sabalenka now gives Keys an opportunity to reach a WTA 1000 quarterfinal without facing a top-30 opponent. Bejlek, the Abu Dhabi Open champion earlier this year, is in unfamiliar territory and appears to be having a breakthrough performance after a quiet few months. While Keys' experience should be an advantage, she is not immune to upsets, having lost to the world number 70 in Washington and suffered three clay-court defeats to players ranked outside the top 80.