'Plus she helped a little bit' - Yulia Putintseva reveals how Coco Gauff 'helped' her win in Cincinnati Open Round 2

Yulia Putintseva also defeated Iga Swiatek at the Wimbledon Championships in July.

Kazakh tennis star Yulia Putintseva beat defending champion Coco Gauff in the second round at the 2024 Cincinnati Open on Thursday. After the win, she was asked about what inspired her to seal the victory convincingly over the 2023 US Open champion.

In response to the question, she stated that Coco Guaff did well in the second set, forcing the match into the decider. However, her coach gave her energy from the stands, which helped her record the victory. Yulia Putintseva also stated that Gauff helped her win the match by dropping her serve at a crucial juncture in the third set.

The Kazakh tennis star said, “My coach stood up. He put pressure on me. It’s the first time he gave me so much energy. I was like ‘wow I have to do something now.’ It was tough. Coco started to play well in the second set. Putting a lot of pressure on my serve and shots.”

She further added, “I felt like she was running everywhere and getting all the balls back. In the end, I got a little lucky with my shots. That’s what made the difference. Plus she helped a little bit. In the important moments she dropped her serve a bit and that’s what made the difference in the third set.”

ALSO READ: Mirra Andreeva surpasses Coco Gauff for most WTA 1000 Top 20 wins before turning eighteen

Before beating Coco Gauff, Putintseva recorded a three-set win over Great Britain’s Harriet Dart. Next up, she will face Spain’s Paula Badosa, who has defeated Anna Kalinskaya and Peyton Stearns in her initial two matches. However, Putintseva also pulled off a major upset at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, where she defeated World No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the third round.

The Kazakh tennis star has a win/loss record of 31/16 this season. However, she has managed to record crucial victories over top-ranked players. Meanwhile, Coco Gauff’s recent form has been concerning. The US Open champion lost to Diana Shnaider in the Round of 16 in Toronto. Additionally, Putintseva eliminated her from her opening match in Cincinnati.

The US Open is scheduled to start on August 26 and Gauff will drop her World No. 2 rank next Monday. Aryna Sabalenka, who was the World No. 2 before the 2024 French Open, will regain her spot in the WTA rankings. Sabalenka will face Elina Svitolina in the Round of 16, after she took down Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto earlier.

Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina is out of the race in Cincinnati after she lost to Leylah Fernandez in the second round. Meanwhile, top seed Iga Swiatek will face Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in her third round fixture.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram