“This is unbelievable,” Coco Gauff said with raw emotion after lifting the Cincinnati Open crown in 2023, her voice echoing the struggles and triumphs of a turbulent European summer. That victory made her the first teenager since 17-year-old Linda Tuero in 1968 to capture a WTA 1000 title at this event, a moment etched in history. Fast forward to this year, and the stage was set once again, with Paris joy and Wimbledon heartbreak fueling the fire of expectation ahead of the US Open. Yet destiny had other plans. Under Cincinnati’s lights, Italian warrior Jasmine Paolini shattered the script, dismissing Gauff and making her feelings clear to the American crowd.
The serving struggles that have shadowed Coco Gauff resurfaced Friday night in Cincinnati, ultimately costing her a place in the semifinals. The World No. 2, fresh off her Roland Garros triumph, fell in a grueling three-set battle to World No. 9 Jasmine Paolini, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. The clash stretched over two hours and three minutes, showcasing flashes of Gauff’s brilliance but also the persistent flaws that have haunted her summer hard-court campaign.
For Paolini, however, this was a night of triumph and resilience. The Italian not only improved her H2H record to 3-2 against the American but also marched into her third WTA 1000 semifinal of 2025, building on her stunning title run at the Italian Open in May. Her path continues as she prepares to face Veronika Kudermetova in Sunday’s semifinal, with her confidence soaring after conquering one of the sport’s brightest young stars on American soil.
Immediately after sealing the win, Paolini spoke with honesty about the difficulty of the match and the environment she faced. “It was so tough. Coco was playing amazing and at the beginning, I was like running and try to put the ball inside the court but it was really tough, you know,” she admitted, reflecting on the shaky start that eventually gave way to momentum in her favor.
Jasmine Paolini after beating Coco Gauff to reach 1st Cincinnati SF
“I tried to fight every point & it worked. I’m really happy. Thank you for cheering for me.. because we are in the States.. Coco is from here. Thank you as well for cheering for me.”
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 16, 2025
“I think after a little bit I started to feel better with ball because the condition in night is bit different. I stay there for every point. I try to fight for every point and it works so I am really happy and thank you for cheering for me! Because you know, we are in the states, I mean, Coco is from here, but thank you as well for cheering for me,” Paolini added, her words carrying gratitude and defiance as she saluted the Cincinnati crowd.
(More to come…)
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