Second-ranked defending champion Coco Gauff crashed out in her opening match at the WTA Cincinnati Open, falling to Yulia Putintseva 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 on Thursday.
The second-round shock to America's Paris Olympic flag-bearer stunned a partisan crowd in the US heartland in the final major tuneup for the US Open, where Gauff is defending champion.
Kazakh spoiler Putintseva, ranked 34th, has made a recent habit of upsets, knocking off world No 1 Iga Swiatek in the Wimbledon third round barely a month ago.
"I'm really proud of myself," said Putintseva. "Even if the crowd was cheering for Coco, they were fair with me.
"These courts are so fast, you have to just play on instinct. That's what I did."
✨Perfectly Served✨@PutintsevaYulia defeats Gauff 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/7CNH8Bn3v2
— wta (@WTA) August 15, 2024
Gauff became the youngest winner at Cincinnati a year ago at age 19 and carried that success into her first Grand Slam triumph at the US Open.
Putintseva will next face Spain's Paula Badosa, who defeated Anna Kalinsyaka 6-3, 6-2.
Third seed Aryna Sabalenka polished her opening-match record at the event by defeating Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-3, 6-4.
Sabalenka, who missed Wimbledon and the Paris Olympics with a shoulder injury, has now won six of seven opening matches at Cincinnati.
"I'm happy with my level in the tough moments," Sabalenka said. "Elisabetta is a difficult opponent. She fought to the last point."
Sabalenka set it Straight 😏@SabalenkaA | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/WKH2JXrQap
— wta (@WTA) August 15, 2024
Cocciaretto was treated for a left hip problem midway through the second set and was seen by the trainer for a thigh tape adjustment at changeovers.
Elena Rybakina was thwarted in her first match since Wimbledon, going down 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 as Canadian Leylah Fernandez saved two match points in an upset of the fourth seed.
Rybakina, who missed the Paris Games with acute bronchitis, suffered with 17 double faults – including on match points. Even 20 aces could not save her afternoon.
Finished with a slice 💫@LeylahFernandez takes out Rybakina for her 3rd career win against a Top 4 opponent 🤩#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/gpJ5y2Janz
— wta (@WTA) August 15, 2024
Elina Svitolina, a semifinalist here nine years ago, saw off Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-1 to next take on Sabalenka.
Sabalenka has won their last two matches, including a Roland Garros quarterfinal in 2023 and a three-setter in Rome three months ago.
Newly minted Armenian Elina Avanesyan, who only recently changed tennis nationalities, stunned eighth seed Jelena Ostapenko with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 fightback.