Coco Gauff , just 21 and already a two-time Grand Slam champion, stands as one of tennis’s brightest stars, her athleticism unrivaled, her backhand punishing, and her serve capable of touching 130 miles per hour. Yet, under the lights of Cincinnati, the world No. 2 faltered. With a golden chance to march into the semifinals, she was stunned by Italian Jasmine Paolini . And the twist? As one ex-pro revealed, it wasn’t Paolini’s brilliance alone but Gauff’s own glaring weakness that allowed an under-confident opponent to rise, strike, and deliver a shock that reverberated through the tournament.

Jasmine Paolini battled past Coco Gauff under the Friday night lights in Cincinnati, rallying for a gritty 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 quarterfinal victory, her third triumph over the American in as many meet

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