Two Top-10 Stars Clash Again
Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini were on a collision course once more, this time in the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Open 2025. The head-to-head stood dead even at 2-2, but it was the Italian who held the momentum, having won their last two meetings in straight sets—including the Rome final just three months ago.
Ranked World No.2 and third in the WTA Race, Gauff boasted the better season record (33–11) and more titles (2) in 2025. The American champion also lead in career accolades, including 10 titles and over $27 million in prize money. But Paolini, now a fixture in the top 10, has become one of the tour’s toughest outs with her fearless all-court game. She rode into this rematch with a 28–13 season record, a WTA 1000 title in Rome, and full confidence against the American. At 29, the 5’2” dynamo wanted to continue to punch above her weight, with a live ranking steady at World No.9 only threatened by Elena Rybakina.
Gauff storms ahead despite Paolini’s chances
Coco Gauff overpowered Jasmine Paolini 6–2 in the opening set, seizing control with an early break and never letting go. Paolini had her chances — creating break points in four different Gauff service games — but the American erased them all with confident replies. Gauff’s resilience in the marathon second game proved pivotal, consolidating her initial break and frustrating Paolini’s momentum.
Paolini did manage a love hold at 0–4, but Gauff immediately regained command, breaking again for 5–2 and serving out the set with authority on her first set point. The scoreline highlights Gauff’s composure under pressure: she saved every break point faced while converting four of her own.
Paolini vs Gauff – Set 1 Stats
| Statistic | Paolini | Gauff |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.73 | 1.38 |
| Serve Rating | 169 | 235 |
| Aces | 0 | 2 |
| Double Faults | 1 | 6 |
| 1st Serve % | 64% (14/22) | 49% (17/35) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 43% (6/14) | 82% (14/17) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 38% (3/8) | 33% (6/18) |
| Break Points Saved | 25% (1/4) | 83% (5/6) |
| Service Games | 25% (1/4) | 75% (3/4) |
| Ace % | 0% | 5.7% |
| Double Fault % | 4.5% | 17.1% |
| Return Rating | 127 | 270 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 18% (3/17) | 57% (8/14) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 67% (12/18) | 63% (5/8) |
| Break Points Won | 17% (1/6) | 75% (3/4) |
| Return Games | 25% (1/4) | 75% (3/4) |
| Pressure Points | 20% (2/10) | 80% (8/10) |
| Service Points | 41% (9/22) | 57% (20/35) |
| Return Points | 43% (15/35) | 59% (13/22) |
| Total Points | 42% (24/57) | 58% (33/57) |
| Max Points In A Row | 6 | 7 |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Service Games Won | 25% (1/4) | 75% (3/4) |
| Return Games Won | 25% (1/4) | 75% (3/4) |
| Total Games Won | 25% (2/8) | 75% (6/8) |
| Max Games In A Row | 2 | 3 |
| Injury Timeouts | 0 | 0 |
| Set 1 Duration | 0h 37m | |
Paolini edges a break-heavy second set, 6–4 over Gauff
Five routine holds set the table at 3–2 before momentum swung wildly. Paolini cracked Gauff’s serve in a long deuce game for 4–2, only for the pair to trade four straight breaks down the stretch. Gauff pulled back twice (to 3–4 and 4–5), but Paolini struck the decisive return game, earning three set point on Gauff’s serve and converting the first to close 6–4. The set hinged on those late return surges—Paolini’s superior breakpoint conversion in the eighth and tenth games proved the difference.
Paolini vs Gauff – Set 2 Stats
| Statistic | Paolini | Gauff |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.11 | 0.90 |
| Serve Rating | 214 | 189 |
| Aces | 0 | 0 |
| Double Faults | 1 | 4 |
| 1st Serve % | 52% (15/29) | 61% (17/28) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 67% (10/15) | 47% (8/17) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 36% (5/14) | 45% (5/11) |
| Break Points Saved | 0% (0/2) | 25% (1/4) |
| Service Games | 60% (3/5) | 40% (2/5) |
| Ace % | 0% | 0% |
| Double Fault % | 3.4% | 14.3% |
| Return Rating | 243 | 237 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 53% (9/17) | 33% (5/15) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 55% (6/11) | 64% (9/14) |
| Break Points Won | 75% (3/4) | 100% (2/2) |
| Return Games | 60% (3/5) | 40% (2/5) |
| Pressure Points | 50% (3/6) | 50% (3/6) |
| Service Points | 52% (15/29) | 46% (13/28) |
| Return Points | 54% (15/28) | 48% (14/29) |
| Total Points | 53% (30/57) | 47% (27/57) |
| Max Points In A Row | 5 | 5 |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Service Games Won | 60% (3/5) | 40% (2/5) |
| Return Games Won | 60% (3/5) | 40% (2/5) |
| Total Games | 60% (6/10) | 40% (4/10) |
| Max Games In A Row | 2 | 1 |
| Injury Timeouts | 0 | 0 |
| Set 2 Duration | 0h 44m | |
Paolini surges past Gauff in decisive Paolini holds off Gauff’s fightback to clinch the decider
Jasmine Paolini closed out the match with a 6–3 final set against Coco Gauff, showing resilience under pressure and a sharp edge on return. The Italian surged ahead early, breaking twice to establish a 2–0 and then 3–1 lead, but she had to work hard to protect it, saving multiple break points along the way. Gauff responded by raising her intensity on return, converting her chances to claw back to 3–3 just as Paolini appeared troubled by an ankle issue that briefly disrupted her rhythm. The contest hung in the balance, yet Paolini steadied herself when it mattered most, fending off further break pressure and capitalising on her own opportunities. From 3–3 she swept through the final three games, breaking Gauff at love and sealing the set on her third match point. It was a gritty close marked by Paolini’s ability to save five of the break points she faced while converting four of her own, a balance that ultimately carried her through a tense decider.
The victory is remarkable as it marks Paolini’s third in a row against Coco Gauff.
Paolini vs Gauff – Deciding Set Stats
| Statistic | Paolini | Gauff |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.21 | 0.83 |
| Serve Rating | 225 | 144 |
| Aces | 0 | 0 |
| Double Faults | 0 | 5 |
| 1st Serve % | 69% (25/36) | 62% (13/21) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 60% (15/25) | 62% (8/13) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 36% (4/11) | 0% (0/8) |
| Break Points Saved | 50% (2/4) | 40% (2/5) |
| Service Games | 60% (3/5) | 25% (1/4) |
| Ace % | 0% | 0% |
| Double Fault % | 0% | 23.8% |
| Return Rating | 273 | 194 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 38% (5/13) | 40% (10/25) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 100% (8/8) | 64% (7/11) |
| Break Points Won | 60% (3/5) | 50% (2/4) |
| Return Games | 75% (3/4) | 40% (2/5) |
| Pressure Points | 56% (5/9) | 44% (4/9) |
| Service Points | 53% (19/36) | 43% (9/21) |
| Return Points | 57% (12/21) | 47% (17/36) |
| Total Points | 54% (31/57) | 46% (26/57) |
| Max Points In A Row | 7 | 9 |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 2 |
| Service Games | 60% (3/5) | 25% (1/4) |
| Return Games | 75% (3/4) | 40% (2/5) |
| Total Games | 67% (6/9) | 33% (3/9) |
| Max Games In A Row | 3 | 2 |
| Injury Timeouts | 0 | 0 |
| Set 3 Duration | 1h 23m | |