Second-seeded defending champion Coco Gauff retired in her opening match at the WTA and ATP Cincinnati Open, losing to Yulia Putintseva 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 on Thursday.

The second-round upset for the American Olympic flag-bearer in Paris shocked the partisan crowd in the heart of the USA in the last important warm-up match for the US Open, where Gauff is the defending champion.

Kazakhstani spoilsport Putintseva, ranked 34th in the world, has made a habit of causing surprises of late, having eliminated world number one Iga Swiatek in the third round of Wimbledon less than a month ago.

“I’m really proud of myself,” Putintseva said. “Even though the crowd cheered for Coco, they were fair to me.”

“These courts are so fast, you just have to play instinctively. That’s what I did.”

Gauff became the youngest winner in Cincinnati a year ago at the age of 19 and took this success with her into her first Grand Slam triumph at the US Open.

Putintseva will next face Spaniard Paula Badosa, who defeated Anna Kalinsyaka 6-3, 6-2.

Third seed Aryna Sabalenka improved her opening record at the event by defeating Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-3, 6-4, while second seed Alexander Zverev also advanced in the men’s singles.

Sabalenka, who missed Wimbledon and the Paris Olympics due to a shoulder injury, has now won six of seven opening matches in Cincinnati.

“I am satisfied with my level in the difficult moments,” said Sabalenka. “Elisabetta is a difficult opponent. She fought until the last point.”

Cocciaretto was treated for a left hip injury in the middle of the second set and was examined by the trainer at the change of ends to rearrange the tape on his thighs.

Zverev dodged a few raindrops towards the end of the second set before claiming his 50th match win of the season, making him the ATP leader.

The German, who won the title here in 2021 after losing his first six career matches at the venue, advanced to the third round with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Karen Khachanov.

The victory in 76 minutes was a repeat of the Tokyo Olympic final won by Zverev.

Khachanov made 26 unforced errors in the loss to a long-time rival, against whom he now trails 2-5.

Zverev, who admitted he was not feeling well despite reaching the quarter-finals in Montreal last week, said his form has improved significantly since then.

“I felt good on the pitch. When you feel good in training, it’s easier to show that in the game,” he said. “I just hope my form improves. I’m happy I won today.”

Zverev had no explanation for his successful run in 2023, saying: “It was just a good year, but I also had some tough defeats.”

– Hurkacz meets Cobolli –

Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta was the German’s next opponent after he defeated Australian Max Purcell 6-3, 6-3.

Fifth-seeded Hubert Hurkacz, who made a surprise comeback to the Montreal quarterfinals after knee surgery in July, won his opening match, defeating Yoshihito Nishioka 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-1.

The Pole worked for more than two hours, hitting 16 aces against his Japanese opponent and fending off 17 of 19 break points.

He will advance to the quarter-finals against Italian Flavio Cobolli, who advanced when fellow countryman Luca Darderi retired, apparently due to illness, after trailing 7-6 (7/4) and 3-1.

In the WTA draw, Elena Rybakina lost 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 in her first match since Wimbledon, as Canadian Leylah Fernandez fended off two match points to surprisingly win the number four seed.

Rybakina, who missed the games in Paris due to acute bronchitis, suffered 17 double faults – including match points. Even 20 aces could not save her afternoon.

Elina Switolina, who reached the semifinals here nine years ago, defeated Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-1 and will now face Sabalenka next.

Sabalenka has won her last two matches, including a quarterfinal at Roland Garros in 2023 and a three-set victory in Rome three months ago.

Newly-minted Armenian Elina Avanesyan, who recently changed her nationality in tennis, surprised eighth-seeded Jelena Ostapenko with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 comeback.

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