Beaten by Jessica Pegula at the opening of the WTA Masters in Riyadh, Coco Gauff reacted well by beating Jasmine Paolini in two sets. The American therefore maintains her chances of qualifying for the semi-finals, while the Italian is eliminated.
Victorious at the Masters in Riyadh last year, Coco Gauff remains in the race to achieve the double, which would be a first since Serena Williams (victorious in 2012, 2013 and 2014). The American, who lost her first match in the “Steffi Graf” group on Sunday against Jessica Pegula, recovered well this Tuesday by beating Jasmine Paolini. It was already the fifth time that the two players had faced each other this year, and the Italian had already won three times, but as in Wuhan last month, it was Gauff who won: 6-3, 6-2 in 1h19. The winner of the last Roland-Garros made three double-faults but lost her serve only once during this meeting.
In the first set, Coco Gauff won eight of the first ten points and led 2-0. The two players then each saved three break points, and Paolini managed to regain the opponent’s service to return to 4-3. But the American broke it again in the next game to lead 5-3, before concluding on her first set point. In the second set, both players held their serve perfectly until 2-2, and that’s when Gauff accelerated to win four games in a row, and therefore the match, against a Paolini still weakened by a virus.
Gauff must wait
The world No. 3 therefore remains in the race for qualification in the semi-finals, while the No. 8 is eliminated, even before challenging Jessica Pegula on Thursday. In the wake of this match, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka challenged Pegula to try to secure her place in the last four, and thus join Elena Rybakina, who qualified on Monday. The result of this match will allow Coco Gauff to know more about the scenarios that will allow her to qualify.
MASTERS WTA / RIYADH
STEFFI GRAF GROUP
1- Aryna Sabalenka: 1 victory – 0 defeat (+2 sets/+8 games)
1- Jessica Pegula: 1-0 (+1 set/+6 games)
3- Coco Gauff: 1-1 (+1 set/+1 game)
4- Jasmine Paolini: 0-2 (-4 sets/-15 games) >>> ELIMINATED
