In an exciting clash, Jasmine Paolini, currently ranked world #9, squared off against the reigning French Open champion and world #2, Coco Gauff, with a coveted semifinal berth on the line.
The fiercely competitive Italian had bested Gauff twice on clay this season, though she had yet to claim victory on hardcourt, standing at 0-2. Gauff, just 21, dazzled audiences by winning this event in 2023. Meanwhile, Paolini, aged 29, was striving for her first semifinal appearance after soaring to a career-high rank of #4 last fall, following consecutive finals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. She won the toss and chose to serve first.
Despite landing 3 out of 5 first serves, Paolini faced a setback with a double fault. Gauff also struggled with two double faults but managed to hold serve after a tense exchange that saw four deuces and two break points. The back-and-forth continued, with Paolini incurring four unforced errors to drop serve, only for Gauff to reciprocate with five unforced errors of her own, including three double faults! Paolini then held at love for a score of 2-3, while Gauff held firm to advance to 4-2.
Paolini recorded 6/8 first serves but succumbed to a break point after two consecutive unforced errors. Gauff, serving for the set and wielding fresh balls, landed her second ace and clinched it with an impressive inside-out forehand volley.
Photo by: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
The second set mirrored the first, with both players facing their fair share of errors. Paolini opened serving and managed to hold to 30, while Gauff, showcasing her remarkable movement and defense, held to 15 to tie things up. Although Paolini made her first double fault, she held serve to 30, and despite missing 4/5 first serves, Gauff also held to 15, leveling the match at 2-2.
Paolini had her inconsistencies, missing 3/6 first serves but still held to 30. Gauff, however, faced trouble with her serve, missing 6/8 first serves, with three double faults contributing to her service woes.
As the match progressed, Paolini briefly led 4-3 after Gauff gave back a break with unforced errors, including her tenth double fault. Serving for the set, Paolini faltered, surrendering the break with four unforced errors, leaving Gauff to clinch it 4-6.
In the decisive third set, Paolini started strong, overcoming double break points to hold serve, even after a close call that had her rolling her ankle but still executing a brilliant running forehand down the line. Gauff, however, struggled on serve, adding three double faults to her tally, handing a break to Paolini, who in turn relinquished it with a mishit forehand. Both players exchanged breaks, with Gauff committing three forehand errors.
Paolini demonstrated resilience, taking her time between points and playing aggressively off the ground, eventually holding to 30 for a lead of 4-3. However, Gauff opened the eighth game with her fifteenth double fault and quickly faltered.
As Paolini served for the match, she swiftly jumped to 40-0. Gauff fought back, ramping up her energy and applying pressure, yet ultimately faltered with a netted forehand, allowing the Italian to secure a dramatic victory.
With this win, Paolini triumphed over the world #2 for the third time this season, marking her first journey to the penultimate round. Surprisingly, she had no aces and only two double faults, winning 57% of her first serves but a mere 36% of her second serve points. She saved 3/10 break points while converting 7/15, leaning on her movement and mental fortitude.
Next, Paolini faces off against the rising star from Russia, Veronika Kudermetova, ranked world #36. Kudermetova, who reached a career-high of #9 in 2022, has made waves by eliminating three seeded players en route to the semifinals: Belinda Bencic, Clara Tauson, and Magda Linette.
As a formidable doubles player, comparable to Paolini, Kudermetova seized the Wimbledon title this season and aims to leverage her powerful serve in this thrilling semifinal encounter. The head-to-head record currently favors Kudermetova at 3-1, including a straight-sets victory four years ago at this event, marking their last match-up.
