World number two Coco Gauff suffered a stunning exit from the Cincinnati Open, marking the latest setback in a challenging season for the American. The defending champion was defeated 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 by Kazakh qualifier Yulia Putintseva in the second round.
The loss extends Gauff’s recent struggles, which have seen her succumb to four consecutive defeats against lower-ranked opponents since the French Open. The 20-year-old admitted to inconsistency in her game and expressed a need to reset ahead of the US Open, where she will defend her title.
“I feel like I have to work on consistency overall,” Gauff told the WTA Tour. “I made a lot of errors, especially when I was up 4-2 in the third set. I think most of the points she won were off my errors.”
Putintseva, ranked 34th in the world, capitalized on Gauff’s unforced errors to secure a memorable victory. The Kazakh displayed impressive resilience, recovering from a set down to claim the deciding set.
The Cincinnati Open has witnessed another high-profile upset, with fourth seed Elena Rybakina crashing out in the second round. The Wimbledon champion suffered a 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 defeat to former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez.Rybakina squandered two match points in the second set before ultimately succumbing to the Canadian.
Both Gauff and Rybakina will now turn their attention to the US Open, where they will aim to rediscover their best form.The defeats in Cincinnati highlight the unpredictable nature of women’s tennis and the challenges faced by even the top players.
The Cincinnati Open continues with several other high-profile matches, as players battle for valuable ranking points and a place in the latter stages of the tournament.
