At the Cincinnati Open, defending champion Coco Gauff was shocked to lose to Yulia Putintseva in her opening encounter.
Gauff, who also won the US Open the previous year to win a Grand Slam match, was unable to answer as Putintseva won the final four games of the match 6-4 2-6 6-4.
Putintseva will play Paula Badosa of Spain in the round of sixteen after defeating world No. 1 Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon this year.
Not only was there a surprise in the women’s draw in Cincinnati on Thursday, but fourth seed Elena Rybakina also lost to Leylah Fernandez 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 in the second round, resulting in her elimination.
As the Canadian player intensifies her preparations for another run at Flushing Meadows, Fernandez, who finished second to Emma Raducanu of Great Britain at the US Open in 2021, reflected on her best performance on hard courts.
After decisively defeating American Ashlyn Krueger on Thursday, Fernandez will next take on Diana Shnaider in the third round.
Aryna Sabalenka, the third seed, defeated Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-3 6-4 to secure her place in the round of sixteen in Cincinnati.