Sara Bejlek continued her impressive run at the Cincinnati Masters on Friday, battling past former Australian Open champion Madison Keys 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) to book her place in the semi-finals.

The 20-year-old Czech followed up her stunning fourth-round victory over world number one Aryna Sabalenka with another determined performance against Keys, the 2019 Cincinnati champion.

Bejlek made a slow start and fell 0-3 behind before surrendering the opening set. However, she responded strongly, weathering a series of momentum swings to reach the last four, where she will meet fourth seed Coco Gauff.

The Czech broke early in the deciding set, but Keys fought back to force a tiebreak. Bejlek then showed remarkable composure, recovering from 4-2 down before sealing victory with a powerful down-the-line winner on match point.

The result capped a remarkable Cincinnati debut for Bejlek, who won the Abu Dhabi title in February after entering the tournament as a wild card.

Keys, ranked 24th in the world, had looked in control early on, breaking in the third game of the second set on a sweltering Stadium Court. But Bejlek, ranked 35th, immediately increased the pressure and levelled the set with a break in the sixth game before moving 4-3 ahead.

Keys responded with a love hold, but Bejlek struck again two games later. The Czech converted her second set point when Keys sent a backhand into the net, forcing the match into a deciding set.

Gauff Cruises Past Kostyuk

Fourth seed Coco Gauff produced a dominant performance of her own, defeating 10th seed Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-2 in just 70 minutes.

The two-time Grand Slam champion was in control from the opening exchanges, breaking Kostyuk six times on her way into the semi-finals.

Kostyuk, who had entered the match with a perfect 5-0 record in quarter-finals this season, managed one break in each set. However, those setbacks did little to disrupt Gauff, who won an impressive five of six points behind her first serve.

“Every match is getting better for me,” Gauff said. “I’m being more decisive, my serve is improving, and it is getting more and more rare for me to be broken.”

Gauff will now face the in-form Bejlek for a place in the final, with the American expecting a difficult challenge from the 20-year-old Czech.

“Sara is a great player,” Gauff said. “I watched her win the title in Abu Dhabi. She’s so athletic and fast, but she makes you earn every point.”

Gauff is also chasing a return to the top of the Cincinnati podium. The American won the tournament in 2023, defeating Iga Swiatek in the final, and will now look to take another step towards reclaiming the title.