Gauff Set to Clash with Paolini in Cincinnati Quarter-Final

Coco Gauff showcased her skills on Thursday, securing a spot in the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals against Jasmine Paolini after a victory over Lucia Bronzetti. Despite a first-round bye, Gauff exhibited a slight lack of sharpness.

The 21-year-old received a walkover into the last 16 due to Dayana Yastremska’s withdrawal. Gauff overcame early breaks in both sets to secure a 6-2, 6-4 victory against Bronzetti and advance to the quarter-finals.

This will be Gauff’s third quarter-final appearance at the 1000-level this season, following Madrid and Rome, where she reached the final in both tournaments.

Next, she will compete against Paolini, who previously defeated her in the Rome final. Paolini dominated Barbora Krejcikova, a two-time Grand Slam champion, with a decisive 6-1, 6-2 victory earlier in the day.

Following her win over Bronzetti, Coco Gauff remarked that she always recalls her 2023 title at Cincinnati whenever she steps onto the court.

Gauff’s Reflections on the Court
  • “It´s very special playing here; I have many great memories from 2023.”
  • “I aimed for controlled aggression but occasionally became passive. The ball travels fast, and she wasn’t providing much pace.”
  • “I saw opportunities during her service losses but missed some shots, yet I managed to finish strong.”

Paolini of Italy needed just over 70 minutes to dispatch Krejcikova, who seemed to have movement issues.

“I believe she wasn’t at her best, but she’s an incredible competitor,” noted the seventh seed.

“Her shot placement is remarkable. I’m glad I maintained mental focus until the end.”

Gauff and Paolini have faced each other four times, with each player claiming two wins.

Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, holds an advantage over Paolini on hard courts.

Her most recent triumph over the Italian player occurred in the quarter-finals en route to winning Cincinnati two years prior.