Coco Gauff’s Cincinnati Open title defense ended abruptly in the first round, as she was defeated 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 by Yulia Putintseva in a dramatic and unexpected upset. Gauff, the world No. 2, struggled with her serve throughout the match, committing nine double faults and failing to capitalize on a 4-2 lead in the final set.
Putintseva, ranked 34th, mounted a spirited comeback, winning four consecutive games to close out the match. This victory marks her first career win over Gauff, who only managed to reach the second round of the Canadian Open last week.
Gauff’s loss continues a troubling trend of early exits for reigning champions at the Cincinnati Open, a phenomenon some have dubbed the “Cincinnati curse.” No woman has successfully defended her title at the tournament since 2015, with previous champions like Caroline Garcia and Victoria Azarenka also falling short in their title defenses.
Despite this setback, Gauff remains focused on her preparations for the upcoming US Open, where she is the defending champion. The 20-year-old, who recently represented the United States at the Paris Olympics, will need to regroup quickly as she seeks to reclaim her Grand Slam-winning form.
In other Cincinnati Open action, 2021 US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez pulled off a significant upset, defeating fourth seed Elena Rybakina in a hard-fought three-set battle. Fernandez’s win adds to the tournament’s string of surprises, setting the stage for an unpredictable and exciting run-up to the US Open.
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