Coco Gauff should be concerned heading into the Cincinnati Open for one simple reason

Who do you think has the best chance of winning the US Open? 🏆

If she fails to deliver, Gauff will be under serious pressure at the US Open.

Coco Gauff must win the Cincinnati Open to avoid extra US Open pressure

Gauff is the highest-ranked player in women’s tennis to have not won a title this season.

Live WTA Rankings

The American has played two WTA 1000 finals, but lost both, leaving her without a title for the year.

Coco Gauff’s record in ‘big events’ this year

Grand Slams

• Australian Open – Lost in QF to Elina Svitolina
• French Open – Lost in 3R to Anastasia Potapova
• Wimbledon – Lost in SF to Karolina Muchova

WTA 1000s

• Qatar Open – Lost in 2R to Elisabetta Cocciaretto
• Dubai Tennis Championships – Lost in SF to Elina Svitolina
• Indian Wells – Lost in 3R to Alex Eala
• Miami Open – Lost in F to Aryna Sabalenka
• Madrid Open – Lost in 4R to Linda Noskova
• Italian Open – Lost in F to Elina Svitolina
• Canadian Open – Lost in SF to Elena Rybakina

She last lifted a trophy 307 days ago, at the 2025 Wuhan Open.

For a player of Gauff’s quality and star power, that’s disappointing, to say the least.

And the title drought is bad news for Gauff with the US Open fast approaching.

Facing more media and sponsor obligations than at any other stretch of the season, if there is one tournament you want to arrive in good form for, it’s the US Open.

The pressure to perform as the poster girl for American tennis is always tough to manage, but it’s easier to bat away any criticisms if you’ve just won a big title.

That’s what Gauff will have her sights set on doing in Cincinnati.

Win the title, and she can begin the US Open full of confidence, shutting down anyone questioning her form.

Fail to do so, and her every move will be scrutinised to the nth degree at Flushing Meadows.

Coco Gauff’s route to the Cincinnati Open title

Competing as the fourth seed in Cincinnati, Gauff has received a bye into the second round.

There, she will play Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova.

Gauff is 4-0 against Samsonova and will be expected to make light work of the world number 43 and book her place in round three.

She could then play her countrywoman, Ann Li, whom she has also never lost to, leading their head-to-head 3-0.

Things could then get tricky for Gauff, though, with Marie Bouzkova or Iva Jovic potentially awaiting her in the last 16.

The American won when she played Jovic for the first time earlier this year, but trails Bouzkova 2-1 in their head-to-head.

Gauff will need to be at her best or close to it if she is to secure her spot in the quarter-finals.

And should she advance, Gauff will need to take her game to another level.

She could meet Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk or Russia’s Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals.

Both players have been in fine form this year, with Kostyuk winning in Madrid before Andreeva won Roland Garros.

Gauff would still be the favourite to reach the semis, but it’s there that she would likely run into Elina Svitolina or Aryna Sabalenka.

Svitolina has caused Gauff several problems this year, and while Sabalenka has looked shaky recently, she is the world number one for a reason.

And if she reaches the final, she could face one of several top WTA stars.

The likes of Linda Noskova, Jessica Pegula, Iga Swiatek, and Elena Rybakina could await Gauff in the Championship match.

Only time will tell if Gauff can win the Cincinnati Open, but it certainly looks like she will be up against it.

The American will begin her campaign on Sunday, August 16.