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Gauff 6-3, 1-2 Paolini* (* denotes server): <\/strong>All Gauff as she smashes a volley after moving closer to the net but Paolini takes a page from a book to hit a slice at the net to make it 30-30. The Italian then takes the lead after Gauff goes long and then holds.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Gauff 6-3, 1-1 Paolini (* denotes server): <\/strong>Paolini nets an early return before Gauff double faults. The Italian then hits a beautiful backhand volley lob that loops over the American and just on the line which produces a smile from her. Gauff does not let it deter her though and sees out a strong service game with a forehand winner.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Gauff 6-3, 0-1 Paolini* (* denotes server): <\/strong>The net cord helps Paolini get her first point of the set on the board but there is no luck involved in her fantastic crosscourt backhand as she goes 30-0. Gauff responds with a backhand way out of Paolini\u2019s reach but then nets the return to give the Italian the first game of the second set.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.04 EST<\/p>\n We are back underway.<\/strong> Paolini to serve with huge pressure. She will be out if she loses this match in straight sets.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Paolini has left the court to regroup<\/strong> as Gauff hits some serves even though the lights are off. She gives the empire a look before they come back on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Gauff takes the first set 6-3 against Paolini<\/p>\n Gauff wins the game to love in convincing matter after Paolini fades away to take the first set. A strong set from the defending champion and with 82% of her second serves won, it is clear that she has been working hard in Riyadh at her glaring weakness.<\/p>\n Coco Gauff takes the opening set in style. Photograph: Fatima Shbair\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.08 EST<\/p>\n Gauff 5-3 Paolini* (* denotes server): <\/strong>With new balls, Gauff nets two forehands, the second one coming even after she had Paolini moving across the baseline. She nets it again to give the Italian a 40-0 lead and her face is in her hands. She gets back into after a Paolini shot is just out and then it\u2019s her turn to net a backhand. Gauff then finds space to fire a backhand to make it 40-40 and the American earns the break after Paolini stumbles over Gauff\u2019s crosscourt backhand.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Gauff 4-3 Paolini (* denotes server): <\/strong>Gauff hits two double faults in a row to give Paolini the game, after the Italian hit some strong backhands earlier. There was a certain inevitability about Gauff\u2019s second double fault, you could see it in the body language. Let\u2019s see how she bounces back.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.46 EST<\/p>\n Gauff 4-2 Paolini* (* denotes server): <\/strong>Paolini needed that. She puts up her best service game and, with the help of some poor shot selection from Gauff, holds.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Gauff 4-1 Paolini (* denotes server): <\/strong>The serve is really working well for Gauff; she is keeping it simple. Her serve is a bit slower, taking a bit of stress away, but then using her speed to beat Paolini on the court. She breezes through the game to hold.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.40 EST<\/p>\n Gauff 3-1 Paolini* (* denotes server): <\/strong>Gauff nets two backhands in a row as the Italian plays her first ball with a bit more power than in the first three games. But Guaff uses the court to make Paolini chase the ball at the baseline and gets to deuce after a weak second serve from the Italian. The two trade advantages for a while and at the fifth deuce, Gauff nets a backhand return. Paolini finally sees out the 8min 58sec game after Gauff sends one long.<\/p>\n Jasmine Paolini wins a mammoth game to get on the scoreboard in the opening set. Photograph: St\u00e9phanie Lecocq\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.41 EST<\/p>\n *Gauff 3-0 Paolini (* denotes server): <\/strong>A long rally ends with the Italian powerfully slicing a winner and following it up with another crosscourt forehand that Gauff strains to reach. But she sends three returns long in back-to-back break points, putting her arms up in the air in frustration. Gauff gets the advantage and turns the game around to take the set after another poor return from Paolini, this one going into the stands.<\/p>\n For all the talk about Gauff\u2019s second serve, she has won all seven points so far from it. Clearly the hard work she is putting on the practice courts is paying off.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Gauff 2-0 Paolini* (* denotes server):<\/strong> Gauff begins with two strong forehand winners and wins break point after Paolini hits one long. Flying start for the defending champion.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Gauff 1-0 Paolini (* denotes server):<\/strong> The Italian goes 30-0 up with ease, her second point a cool crosscourt backhand but she follows it up with another that lands out. But Gauff comes back to hold and, notably, wins all three points from her second serve.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Pictures and warm-ups complete<\/strong> \u2026 and play.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Gauff and Paolini<\/strong> have just entered Centre Court at the King Saud University Indoor Arena. Tim Henman and Laura Robson are discussing Gauff\u2019s serves struggles and Paolini\u2019s ability to play today after feeling under the weather during her first match. The DJ behind them is distractingly playing an EDM beat as colourful lights flash all over. Ons Jabeur does the coin toss. Gauff wins and elects to serve first.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.11 EST<\/p>\n The start of the first singles match<\/strong> will likely be delayed as the early doubles match has just finished. Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova beat Erin Routliffe and Gabriela Dabrowski 6-6, 7-6 (3).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Yesterday, players from the Serena Williams Group<\/strong> were in action as Elena Rybakina came from behind to stun Iga Swiatek, becoming the first player to book her spot in the semi-final. Amanda Anisimova also came back against Jessica Pegula and will battle it out for the second sem-final spot against Swiatek on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Elena Rybakina won her first two WTA Finals matches to book her spot in the sem-finals. Photograph: St\u00e9phanie Lecocq\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Gauff has had an extremely successful start<\/strong> to her career, winning two slams on two different surfaces at the age of 21. But her serve \u2013 specifically her second serve \u2013 is holding her back. The world No 3 hit three double faults in a row against her compatriot Pegula in her first match and has spent the season battling against her form. Here is Tumaini Carayol\u2019s verdict:<\/p>\n On the court, she possesses many assets. Her defensive skills and athleticism are peerless, her two-handed backhand is sublime and her intelligence on the court is complemented by a well-rounded game. While her forehand can be inconsistent, all evidence suggests that the quality of her second serve will probably determine just how far she can go in her career. Gauff leads the tour for success in return games, winning 46.8% of her return games this year, and she has won a respectable 68.6% of first\u2011serve points, which places her at No 12 in the top 50.<\/p>\n The problems begin with her second serve. Gauff is the sixth-worst performer in the top 50 for second\u2011serve points won this year. Excluding double faults, however, she has won the second\u2011highest proportion of second\u2011serve points on the tour. If she can lower her double\u2011fault count, her results will improve significantly.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Read the full analysis below, including how the hiring of the tennis biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan has helped the American.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n It is do or die for Coco Gauff, the defending champion, and Jasmine Paolini in the Stefanie Graf Group at the WTA Finals<\/a>. Both players lost their first matches and need a win today if they want any chance of progressing to the semi-finals. The two last played each other in China during the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open. Gauff beat Paolini before winning the title, her third WTA 1000 singles title. But their head-to-head record is at an even 3-3 and before Wuhan, Paolini had won their last three matches, including at Cincinnati.<\/p>\n Later on Jessica Pegula and Aryna Sabalenka, who beat Gauff and Paolini respectively, will face off. Their head-to-head is more skewed in Sabalenka\u2019s favour, the world No 1 winning eight of their 11 matches, including at the 2024 and 2025 US Open. But the American will take some solace in that she beat Sabalenka in Wuhan last month. Can she repeat the feat in Riyadh?<\/p>\n Gauff v Paolini is set for 2pm GMT\/9am EST while Sabalenka v Pegula is slotted for 3.30pm GMT\/10.30am EST. Join me for all the action and, as always, send me your thoughts, questions and predictions via email<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n