By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Photo: Robert Prange/Getty
Dishing out a horrific 17 double faults in her first WTA Finals loss, the defending champion Coco Gauff played proactive return tennis today.
Confused Jasmine Paolini with jumping serves and strong groundstrokes, Gauff reaped the rewards of the big jump by rebounding in the final five games, cruising to a 6-3, 6-2 second-round victory.
The 21-year-old Gauff evened her record at 1-1 in Steffi Graf Group play, keeping her semifinal hopes alive, while Paolini, who dropped to 0-2, is officially eliminated from making the final four.
“I just try to give myself the best chance to win,” Gauff said Coco Vandwow of the Tennis Channel in her court interview. “I felt like my last game I wasn’t as positive. So I was trying not to let this be a repeat of today.”
If the world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula in straight sets in today’s second round match, she advances to the semifinals. If Pegula, who beat Gauff in her stride, prevails, she continues as winner of the Steffi Graf Group with Sabalenka and Gauff facing off on Thursday with a semi-final spot on the line.
Gauff is playing to become the first woman to successfully defend her WTA Finals crown since the legend. Serena Williams won her third consecutive championship in 2014. 2022 finalist Sabalenka is bidding for her first WTA Finals title.
“I think knowing that no one has been protected in so many years, it definitely takes the pressure off,” Gauff said. “Honestly, that’s one reason: You’re playing the best eight in the world.
“I’m used to, when I lose, I’m in bed for a few days. And to have to come back and play matches is so unique. Yeah, I’m just glad I got through it today.”
The reigning champion is on board! 💥@CocoGauff defeats Paolini 6-3, 6-2 and secures her first win in the group. #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/BOdeFbSsqp
— wta (@WTA) November 4, 2025
Today’s opening singles match was a repeat of the Rome final in May, where Paolini saw off Gauff 6-4, 6-2.
Tired of illness and fatigue, Paolini, who is playing both singles and doubles in Riyadh, did not play her standard ferocious tennis today. She looked lethargic, was half a step slow to the ball, sprayed some wild turns and was generally pushed around by Gauff in the secondary set.
However, most of Paolini’s problems were caused by Gauff, who played much cleaner tennis and hit with more conviction than she did in her opening loss. Against the best-hitting Pegula, Gauff, who hits her swing with the most extreme western control of the elite eight, sometimes struggled to get under the ball and control her drive.
Today, Gauff came up with a clear game plan: The shot serves to provide plenty of margin at the net, minimize double faults, then drive strong frontcourt forces deep down the court to force Paolini back into defensive position and set up to win pucks at the line.
Gauff executed that game plan effectively. Today, she served 60 percent, won 12 of 16 second serve points and doubled just three times – 14 fewer doubles than she hit against Pegula.
At times, Gauff, one of the best pure athletes on Tour, still has a habit of jumping to the front. This not only causes him to lose the base of his kicker’s leg movement, but also causes him to open up and sometimes splash it. But overall, Gauff hit her forehand with much more accuracy and confidence today as she doggedly cornered Paolini.
The eighth-seeded Italian led Love-30 in the opening game only to see Gauff reel off eight points in a row by breaking at love for a 2-0 lead.
Gauff’s much-analyzed forehand was a little spotty early, but it was there for her when she got to love-40.
Digging in, Gauff reeled off six straight points to hold a 3-0 lead.
Battling illness after arriving in Riyadh, Paolini was not as energetic and demonstrative in the first set as she usually is on court. However, Paolini took advantage of a couple of double faults to break back for 3-4, then went up 40-love in the eighth game.
Credit Gauff, who was playing with strong arms that towered over the 5’4″ Italian shoulder, for keeping the ball out of Paolini’s strike zone and setting up her deadly shot.
Gauff threw away her second set at love, wrapping up the opening set in 41 minutes despite 21 unforced errors. Paolini was more erratic committing more unforced errors, including a strikeout in that final game.
A strong backhand shot helped Gauff stay at love at 2 all in the second set.
Then Gauff shifted into a higher gear by sliding in a hand pass to break for 3-2. Gauff backed up the break at 15 for a 4-2 lead after 70 minutes of play.
The two-handed Paolini is usually a reliable shot, but her imprecise putt failed her with an errant, unfair shot that splashed wide. When Paolini hit a forehand into the net, Gauff broke again for 5-2. Gauff saved a break point to seal the match in one hour and 18 minutes to keep her semi-final hopes alive.
