Coco Gauff Storms Into Cincinnati Quarterfinals With Dominant Win – Faces Paolini Next!

Former champion Coco Gauff showcased her relentless form as she cruised past Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti 6-2, 6-3 to secure a spot in the Western & Southern Open quarterfinals in Cincinnati. The 20-year-old American, who received a walkover in the third round, displayed no signs of rust and will now face Jasmine Paolini in a high-stakes rematch.

Gauff’s Commanding Performance Against Bronzetti

Gauff, the 2023 Cincinnati champion, had not played a competitive match since her straight-sets win over Wang Xinyu in the second round. However, she quickly silenced any doubts with a dominant performance, firing 23 winners and keeping her double faults to just three—her lowest count since the Roland Garros semifinals.

“For the most part, I played aggressive,” Gauff said in her on-court interview. “The balls are super light, and she wasn’t giving me much pace, so I had to stay controlled but aggressive.”

Bronzetti, ranked No. 61, had previously upset seeds Daria Kasatkina and Jelena Ostapenko, but Gauff’s superior baseline game and patient point construction proved too much for the Italian.

Paolini Awaits in Blockbuster Quarterfinal Clash

Gauff’s next challenge is a fiery rematch against No. 7 seed Jasmine Paolini, who dismantled an ailing Barbora Krejcikova 6-1, 6-2 in just 71 minutes.

This will be their fifth career meeting, with Gauff leading 3-2 in their head-to-head. Their last encounter was at Wimbledon 2024, where Paolini triumphed. However, Gauff holds a win over Paolini in the 2023 Cincinnati quarterfinals, making this a must-watch showdown.

“She’s an unbelievable player,” Paolini said about Krejcikova. “But I stayed strong mentally till the end.”

Gauff’s Resurgence in 2025

With this win, Gauff advances to her fifth quarterfinal at a WTA 1000 or Grand Slam event this year. Her improved serve and aggressive play signal a strong return to form after early struggles with double faults in Montreal.

Key Stats From Gauff’s Win:

✔ 63% first-serve points won
✔ 58% second-serve points won
✔ Only 3 double faults (a major improvement)

What’s Next for Coco Gauff?

If Gauff defeats Paolini, she could face either Iga Świątek or Elena Rybakina in the semifinals—setting up another electrifying clash.