🌍 Tennis Upset Alert: Gauff Falls to Putintseva in Rollercoaster Match
In a stunning upset at the Cincinnati Open, defending champion Coco Gauff (USA) saw her title defense end early after a fierce battle against Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva. The match ended 4-6, 6-2, 4-6, with Putintseva securing her first-ever win over the world No. 2. 🎾
🔥 “I Made Too Many Errors” – Gauff Reacts
Gauff acknowledged her struggles post-match, telling the WTA: “She’s a tricky opponent… most points she won were off my errors.” Putintseva, known for her unpredictable shots, proved why she’s a rising threat after also defeating world No. 1 Iga Świątek at Wimbledon last month.
💪 Putintseva’s Confidence: “Belief is Never an Issue”
The Kazakh star revealed her underdog mentality: “Since I was a kid, only my parents believed in me… I was the smallest in my group, but my dad said, ‘You’re the best.’” She’ll face Spain’s Paula Badosa next.
🌟 Sabalenka Advances Amid Drama
Elsewhere, No. 3 seed Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) kicked off her Cincinnati campaign with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto. “I’m happy with my level in tough moments,” said Sabalenka, who’ll next play Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina.
