Now there’s an unexpected and one-sided outcome that took everyone by surprise. Certainly not something anticipated from Coco Gauff. The top-ranked player disappointingly exited the Canadian Open on Friday, August 9. In a surprising turn of events, the American was outsmarted by Diana Shnaider, losing in straight sets 6-4, 6-1 in challenging windy conditions at Sobeys Stadium, Toronto. However, this could mark the beginning of troubles for the talented young player.
Gauff, who was preparing to defend her US Open title, is likely to suffer a significant blow in rankings due to this unexpected loss. Aryna Sabalenka, aiming to reclaim her World No. 2 position, could take advantage of this opportunity. Moreover, the Belarusian has been performing exceptionally well at the WTA 1000 masters event. This could potentially be detrimental to the young American as her ranking is now up for grabs.
The former World No. 1 has secured a place in the quarterfinals of the National Bank Open. During her Round of 16 match, Sabalenka easily defeated her opponent, Katie Boulter, with a score of 6-3, 6-3. While this victory is beneficial for the 26-year-old, it does not bode well for Gauff. Considering Sabalenka’s impressive form in Toronto, if she continues to win matches and clinch the title, she will surpass the current Flushing Meadows champion in WTA rankings by 200 points.
While it is still uncertain what will happen to Gauff’s ranking after her surprising loss in WTA Toronto, her opponent has advanced to the quarterfinals. The former 23rd-ranked player in the world will now face Liudmila Samsonova for a chance to reach the event’s semifinals on Saturday, August 10.
Photo from Aryna Sabalenka Instagram
