The Cincinnati Open 2025 is set to deliver an intense quarterfinal clash as Coco Gauff faces Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in Mason, Ohio. This encounter, featuring the 2023 Cincinnati champion Gauff, highlights a high-stakes rematch between two evenly matched players vying to advance in the Masters 1000 event.
Coco Gauff entered the tournament after a convincing straight-sets win over Lucia Bronzetti, following a walkover and a first-round bye. Jasmine Paolini, seeded seventh, reached this stage by overpowering Barbora Krejčíková with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory, taking advantage of Krejčíková’s mobility struggles.
Details of the Quarterfinal Clash Between Gauff and Paolini
The match will take place on August 15, 2025, at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. As part of the prestigious Cincinnati Open Masters 1000 tournament, the quarterfinals are played on outdoor hard courts, a surface that favors Gauff’s aggressive style. Fans can watch the live telecast on Tennis Channel, Fubo, ESPN+, and Sky Sports.
Background of Rivalry and Previous Encounters
Gauff and Paolini share a balanced head-to-head record, each holding two wins in their four professional meetings. Their most recent match occurred in the final of the 2025 Italian Open in Rome, where Paolini defeated Gauff 6-4, 6-2 on clay. That encounter lasted one hour and 29 minutes, showcasing Paolini’s tactical proficiency and boosting her confidence.
Comparing Strengths and Styles Ahead of Their Cincinnati Meeting
Gauff’s 2025 season has seen strong performances on hard courts, boasting an 18–6 win-loss record. Her notable achievements include reaching the semifinals in Indian Wells and the Round of 16 in Miami. Additionally, Gauff remains undefeated in all eight WTA Tour singles finals played on hard surfaces throughout her career, reflecting her ability to perform under pressure.
Conversely, Paolini holds a 15-7 record on hard courts this year, although clay remains her preferred surface. Paolini’s game emphasizes strategic baseline play with steady court coverage and high conversion of break-point chances. This contrasts with Gauff’s aggressive approach, characterized by powerful serves, swift movement, and relentless pressure on opponents from the outset.
Statistical data accentuates these differing tactics: Gauff averages 2.58 aces per match with a 60.8% first serve success rate but commits 6.11 double faults on average. Her break-point conversion stands robust at 59.5% for 2025. Paolini uses fewer aces, about 1.42 per match, but is much more consistent with only 1.56 double faults on average, illustrating a cleaner serving pattern.
Defensively, Paolini excels with an average of 3.81 breaks won per match and secures more than half a break in over 92% of her matches. This resilience helped her contain Krejčíková’s power in their earlier round. However, Gauff’s proven dominance on hard courts, demonstrated by her aggressive style and success in critical moments, gives her an edge despite Paolini’s breakthrough capabilities.
Prediction: Coco Gauff to triumph in straight sets, continuing her strong hard-court run and defending her Cincinnati title.