After a strong performance on clay courts capped by a title win at Roland Garros, Coco Gauff experienced setbacks on grass and hard courts as she approached the Cincinnati Open. Her grass court campaign faltered starting with a Round of 16 loss to Xinyu Wang at the Berlin Grass Court Championships, followed by a defeat to world number 31, Dayana Yastremska, at Wimbledon in straight sets. The 19-year-old American expressed her disappointment after the Wimbledon loss, saying,
“I don’t really like losing – I just feel a little bit disappointed in how I showed up today.”
Gauff acknowledged she could have performed better in tie-breakers during that match.
Following Wimbledon, Gauff competed at the Canadian Open in Montreal but was again ousted in the Round of 16, this time by 18-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko. Determined to regain momentum, she entered the Cincinnati Open with fresh resolve.
Early Victory and Anticipated Rematch
At the Cincinnati Open, Gauff began her campaign positively with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Xinyu Wang. This win set up a potential rematch against Dayana Yastremska in the Round of 32, a player who had previously troubled Gauff. Ahead of the match, Gauff dismissed the notion of seeking revenge, stating,
“I don’t ever think of like a revenge type of tennis. At first, I used to think like that, but then I’m like, I’ve played too many people too many times to have like a revenge mindset, but no, I think for me, it’s a good measure to see where my game is.”
She also acknowledged Yastremska’s threat:
“She’s a tough opponent, a great ball striker, and can pull winners out of anywhere. So yeah, it’ll be a tough test for me, especially having to play her again.”
Unexpected Withdrawal and Gauff’s Unexpected Break
However, Yastremska was unable to compete due to fitness issues, which advanced Gauff to the fourth round without contest. Afterward, rather than immediately preparing for her next match, Gauff took a brief and unanticipated break from the tournament, traveling to the Great American Ball Park to attend a Major League Baseball game. She shared moments from the event on her Instagram stories, highlighting her presence at the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies.
This pause provided Gauff a chance to reset mentally and physically before facing Italian player Lucia Bronzetti in the Round of 16, marking a strategic moment of rest during a demanding season.
Context of Recent Performance and the Road Ahead
Gauff’s recent form raises questions about whether the current difficulties are temporary or indicative of deeper challenges in her game. After a triumphant clay court season, the transition to grass and hard surfaces has brought unexpected hurdles. Her losses and the subsequent break at Cincinnati illustrate a pivotal phase in her career where adaptation and recovery are crucial.
As the Cincinnati Open progresses, Gauff’s ability to rebound against Bronzetti will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, especially considering her status as the world number two. Her upcoming matches will reveal if she can overcome the recent slump and regain the winning rhythm demonstrated earlier in the year.