Coco Gauff heads into Cincinnati with momentum on hard courts but a reminder of Rome’s recent setback still fresh. After a tight Rome final in May, where Jasmine Paolini edged her 6-4, 6-2 to become the first Italian to win the Italian Open in 40 years, Gauff is aiming to rebound on hard surfaces. She later cooled off a rough Citi Open by cutting down on double faults, then rolled past Lucia Bronzetti 6-2, 6-4 in the Cincinnati fourth round to reach the quarterfinals.
Next up for the American No. 2 is a third meeting with Paolini this season. The two are split 2-2 in their head-to-head for 2025, with Paolini claiming both clay clashes and Gauff prevailing in their hard-court encounters. Their last matchup came on clay in Rome, where Paolini beat Gauff, but Cincinnati will offer another chance to reset on a quicker surface.
Paolini arrived in Cincinnati off a strong win over Barbora Krejcikova in the Round of 16, 6-1, 6-2, signaling she’s not content simply to rely on a favorable matchup. In an on-court interview, she acknowledged the challenge of beating Gauff on hard courts and admitted it’s tough to replicate clay performance on a fast indoor/accelerated surface. A light moment during the broadcast—about the event’s transformation and the possibility of clay being brought in—highlighted the round-the-court atmosphere, but Paolini kept her focus on the task ahead.
Gauff has shown she can raise her level when it matters. In Cincinnati last year, she captured the title by defeating Karolina Muchova in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, becoming the youngest player since Linda Tuero in 1968 to win a WTA 1000 event. That memory adds to her resilience as she tries to translate a strong hard-court run into another deep run in New York.
Beyond Cincinnati, Gauff’s 2023 breakthrough remains a touchstone: a Wimbledon setback in 2023 and a subsequent surge to win her maiden Grand Slam at the US Open, a run she hopes to repeat in 2025 if the momentum continues. After a slower spell following Wimbledon this year, including a Montreal exit to teen sensation Victoria Mboko, she appears to have regained confidence in Cincinnati and is intent on building early rhythm heading toward the US Open.
What to watch:
– Gauff’s serve and return against Paolini’s pace on a faster Cincinnati court; can she limit unforced errors and stay aggressive on serve?
– Paolini’s clay-grounded game translating to hard court; how aggressive will she be on return and how well can she mix in slice and pace against Gauff?
– The momentum swing: will Cincinnati form signal a rebound in time for a deep run at the US Open?
Summary: Gauff and Paolini renew their rivalry in Cincinnati with both players feeling the bite of Rome but also armed with improvements. Gauff seeks to sustain her hard-court form and rekindle the 2023 Cincinnati magic, while Paolini aims to leverage her recent form and clay strengths to push into another big win on a quick surface. If Gauff can maintain her hard-court consistency, a strong US Open bid could be on the cards.