Coco Gauff opens Cincinnati with a convincing win to rebound from Canadian Open wobble
Coco Gauff began her Cincinnati Open campaign with a straight-sets victory, defeating Wang Xinyu 6-3, 6-2 to steady the ship after a rough stretch that included a shock loss to Victoria Mboko at the Canadian Open and a problematic serving spell that produced 23 double faults in a three-set win over Danielle Collins.
The victory in the Midwest signals a return to form for the American, who has been trying to regain consistency after claiming the French Open title in June. Gauff’s win over Wang Xinyu also marks a step forward in a season where she’s looking to build momentum on hard courts ahead of the North American swing.
Gauff’s latest milestone has sparked comparisons with Martina Hingis in a specific statistical category. According to OptaAce, Gauff has moved past her opening-match record in 36 of the 44 WTA-1000 tournaments she has appeared in. Hingis still holds the bar in this regard, having won 46 opening matches in Tier 1/WTA-1000 events before turning 22.
Looking ahead, Gauff has drawn Dayana Yastremska in the Cincinnati Open’s third round. The American will look for a different result against the Ukrainian after Yastremska upset her at Wimbledon with a 7-6, 6-1 victory. Gauff, speaking ahead of the rematch, said she doesn’t view it as revenge tennis, but rather a meaningful chance to assess her game on a faster hard court and to test how far she has come since Wimbledon.
Gauff also emphasized the ongoing work behind the scenes, noting that the hard-court season has offered opportunities to refine her game and build confidence after the grass-court setback. The Cincinnati result keeps her in good shape as she navigates a demanding stretch of the schedule.
Additional notes and context:
– This win helps Gauff keep her momentum in a season where she’s balancing breakout potential with the need for consistency across big events.
– Dayana Yastremska presents a tricky challenge with aggressive ball-striking, so the rematch will be a good gauge of how Gauff has adjusted since their Wimbledon meeting.
– The broader storyline remains Gauff’s ability to convert servings into sustained, pressure-filled games, a key factor as she aims to deepen her deep run in big-tier events and carry that form into the late-season hard-court slate.
Summary: Gauff’s Cincinnati start is a positive sign as she rebounds from recent inconsistencies, reinforces her status as a top contender in a stacked draw, and positions her for a telling third-round test against Yastremska.
Positive outlook: If she continues tightening her serve and maintaining aggressive ball-striking, Gauff could build substantial confidence heading into the next phase of the season, keeping her on track for a deep run in large events.