Coco Gauff’s hopes for a reset at the Cincinnati Open were dashed in the first round, as she suffered a surprising loss to Kazakh player Yulia Putintseva. The 20-year-old American, who arrived in Cincinnati on the back of a string of defeats to lower-ranked opponents, fell 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to the World No. 34. This defeat casts a shadow on her preparations for the upcoming US Open, where she aims to defend her title.
Gauff acknowledged the need to improve her consistency, particularly after making 50 unforced errors, including nine double faults. She plans to return home to regroup and regain her focus before the US Open. “I feel like I have to work on consistency, overall,” she said. “I’ll probably go home and try to reset. Obviously, I have a lot coming up soon with the U.S. Open, so I think just trying to reset and be ready for that.”
Gauff highlighted the challenge posed by Putintseva, who employs a variety of shots, including drop shots and slices, forcing opponents to work hard for every point. “She’s always a tricky opponent to play. She mixes up the ball, has drop shots, slices. She’s someone that makes you earn the match,” Gauff explained.
Gauff wasn’t the only top player to face an early exit in Cincinnati. Elena Rybakina, the fourth seed, lost to former US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez in a thrilling three-set encounter. Rybakina squandered two match points before ultimately succumbing to Fernandez 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4. This early exit further underscores the unpredictable nature of the tournament and the challenges facing top players as they prepare for the US Open.
