World No. 2 and reigning French Open champion, American Coco Gauff, was eliminated from the WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open in the quarterfinals after losing to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini with scores of 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. The result stunned the crowd and the tennis media, as Gauff had started the match with an outstanding first set, showing aggression, precision, and clear superiority over her opponent.

However, the story changed from the second set onward, when her level of play declined and Paolini capitalized on every mistake to turn the match around. The statistics highlighted the extent of Gauff’s struggles: she committed 16 double faults and registered 62 unforced errors, numbers highly unusual for a player of her caliber and decisive in the outcome.

Paolini, by contrast, remained composed from the baseline, absorbed her rival’s power, and played intelligent, consistent tennis without taking unnecessary risks. That strategy allowed her to grow in confidence and close out the match with a controlled third set, marking her third consecutive victory over Gauff in 2025. Gauff’s frustration was evident at the end of the encounter, when she could not contain her anger and smashed one of her rackets.

The scene reflected the emotional blow that this defeat represented, coming just a few weeks before the start of the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the season. Despite the setback, Coco Gauff downplayed the loss in her post-match remarks, acknowledging that defeats are part of tennis and that WTA 1000 tournaments are always demanding. “The season is long, there are ups and downs, and I’m not overly worried because

I have time to adjust and come back stronger,” she stated, with self-criticism but also serenity. Meanwhile, Jasmine Paolini celebrated a victory that further solidifies her strong run on the tour, confirming her growth as a top-10 player and positioning herself as a serious contender for a deep run at the upcoming US Open. With this elimination, the focus now shifts to how Gauff will rebuild her confidence and refine her game ahead of the season’s final stretch.