Rybakina and Gauff both out in the second round in Cincinnati

LEYLAH KNOCKS OFF RYBAKINA❗️@leylahfernandez delivered yet another comeback, saving two match points to stun the world no. 4 Elena Rybakina and advance from @CincyTennis

It's her first win over a top 5 opponent since 2021 💪

Read the match details⬇️https://t.co/gCLjTju8Pl

— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) August 15, 2024

Playing in a double-fault-palooza (a total of 30, between them), Leylah Fernandez saved two match points and upset 4th seed Elena Rybakina 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 in Cincinnati today. The opponents broke each other twelve times, and Rybakina--though she hit twenty aces--double-faulted seventeen times and had trouble keeping the ball in the court. There were some light raindrops falling during the match, but a quick wiping of the lines took care of any potential issues.

Next for the Canadian star is Diana Shnaider, who defeated Ashlyn Krueger 7-5, 6-0 today. Shnaider has won three titles this year, and is already number 20 in the world. She (along with Mirra Andreeva) also won the silver medal in doubles at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Defending champion and 2nd seed Coco Gauff went out today, too, defeated in three sets by Yulia Putintseva, who hit her only ace on match point. Putintseva has upset both the world number 1 and the world number 2 within the last two months. Her next challenge, in the round of 16, will be Paula Badosa.

Elina Avanesyan, who is now playing for Armenia, followed her defeat of Bianca Andreescu with an upset of 8th seed Alona Ostapenko. And 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva followed her defeat of Bianca Andreescu with a defeat of Karolina Pliskova. 

As for Taylor Townsend--she upset 9th seed Daria Kasatkina today. And 3rd seed Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the round of 16 when she defeated Elisabetta Cocciaretto (my current favorite WTA name) in straight sets. 

In doubles, top seeds Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend advanced to the quarterfinals, and Leylah Fernandez and Yulia Putintseva got a walkover from 6th seeds Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk. And Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls upset 5th seeds Lyudmila Kichenok and Alona Ostapenko.

With Karolina Pliskova (2016) and Coco Gauff (2023) out, and Victoria Azarenka (2013, 2020) having to withdraw because of injury, there are no former singles champions left in the draw.