Coco Gauff is back in the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals.
The 21-year-old failed to win a match at the Ohio-based WTA 1000 tournament a year ago, but she has turned things around in 2025.
Coco Gauff has yet to drop a set in Cincinnati and that streak continued when she took on Lucia Bronzetti in the last 16.
The American has yet to lose to the Italian, and that remained after Gauff eased to a 6-2, 6-4 victory in front of her home fans.
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty ImagesCoco Gauff says she found it ‘awkward’ playing Lucia Bronzetti’s backhand in Cincinnati
Coco Gauff played Bronzetti on two previous occasions before they squared off at the Cincinnati Open.
This was their second meeting on a hard court and once again Gauff emerged victorious.
Gauff at times looked tentative on the forehand, but it held at important moments and her backhand pushed Bronzetti into uncomfortable positions on court.
But after the match the two-time Grand Slam winner took time to comment on Bronzetti’s backhand. She hits it very flat, flatter than any other player in the WTA’s top 50 in fact. But while Gauff found that strange, she was ready for it.
“It felt very awkward! I was lucky to practice with a couple of players this week who hit it flat, Gauff told Tennis Channel. “But she definitely hits flatter than even those who did hit flat. It was very weird.
“It was super low and I was having to get low but then always having to hit the ball basically in this C pattern, especially on the forehand side. It was awkward but I think I did well with it most of the time.”
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty ImagesCoco Gauff rated her Cincinnati Open fourth round performance as ‘pretty good’
Gauff needed just one hour and 19 minutes to secure her fifth quarterfinal of 2025 at WTA 1000 or Grand Slam level.
She landed 79% of her first serves and converted five out of seven break points on the way to victory.
Since Gauff won the French Open, she has played just eight matches. But she was pleased with her level and she will need to produce a high level when she takes on Jasmine Paolini in the quarterfinals.
“I thought it was overall pretty good. A couple of those games I maybe decelerated,” she said.
“It’s tough with these balls, they fly in these conditions, so you just have to trust yourself out there but overall I think today was better than my last match and I’m happy with how I played.”