Gauff looks to reboot ahead of US Open after shock defeat in Cincinnati

Coco Gauff, aged 20, aimed to regain her form at the Cincinnati Open following a series of defeats against lower-ranked competitors. However, her title defense was abruptly halted by a surprising loss in her opening match, prompting her to seek solutions upon returning home.

The player from Florida entered the tournament having experienced four consecutive tour-level losses to lesser-known opponents since the French Open in June. On Thursday, she faced Kazakhstani player Yulia Putintseva, ranked 34th in the world, and was defeated with scores of 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

This setback significantly impacted her preparations for the upcoming US Open, where she aims to defend her championship title. "I feel like I need to focus on my consistency overall," Gauff stated to the WTA Tour after opting out of a press conference. "I will likely return home to reset."

"With the US Open approaching, my priority is to reset and prepare adequately for that challenge."

During the match, Gauff committed 50 unforced errors, including nine double faults, and acknowledged that her performance was below her usual standards. "I made numerous mistakes, particularly when I was leading 4-2 in the third set. Most of the points she won were due to my errors," Gauff remarked.

"She is always a challenging opponent, as she varies her shots with drop shots and slices. She forces you to earn every point."

Gauff was not the only prominent player to exit the tournament early; her opponent Putintseva's fellow countrywoman and fourth seed Elena Rybakina also faced an early exit, losing to former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez with scores of 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 after failing to convert two match points.