Jasmine Paolini secured a dramatic 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 comeback victory over Coco Gauff in the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals on Friday, marking her third win against the American this year. Paolini overcame both a mid-match injury and significant psychological pressure to advance.
After losing the first set, Paolini’s resolve was tested early in the third when she rolled her ankle while hitting a running forehand. Following a brief medical timeout, she immediately broke Gauff’s serve. However, leading 3-1, Paolini then lost nine consecutive points, recalling recent matches where she had failed to close out winning positions.
This time, she decisively reversed the momentum, winning seven straight points and 12 of the final 15 to clinch the match in just over two hours. Gauff’s performance was hampered by inconsistency, as she recorded 16 double faults and 62 unforced errors in a turbulent contest that featured 14 breaks of serve.
“It was so tough,” Paolini said afterward. “At the beginning, I was just running and trying to put the ball inside the court… but after a little bit, I started to feel the ball better. I stayed there every point, I tried to fight every point, and it worked.”
The win propels Paolini into her fifth semifinal of the season and her second at a WTA 1000 event, following her title run in Rome. For a spot in the final, she will face former Top 10 player Veronika Kudermetova. Paolini trails their head-to-head record 0-3, though they have not played since meeting at the same tournament in 2021.
“She’s a great player, big serve and big weapons,” Paolini said of her next opponent. “It’s always tough to play against her… this one is going to be a different story. She’s playing really well, I’m happy with my game here, so let’s see what I can do.”
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