Coco Gauff’s unexpected defeat at the ongoing Cincinnati Open not only marked an end to her campaign but also helped her rival, Iga Świątek, with a massive push. Amid the Polish WTA star’s ongoing run at the WTA 1000 event, she now has a golden opportunity to set things right in terms of her rankings, which took a massive hit during the clay court season this year.
Here’s a detailed look at the possibilities for Świątek after Gauff’s defeat to Jasmine Paolini.
Coco Gauff’s Unexpected Fate in Cincinnati Offers a Pack of Opportunities for Iga Świątek
Jasmine Paolini reached the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open after beating Coco Gauff in their quarterfinal match on Saturday. Ranked world No. 9 with three WTA titles, the Italian player made a strong comeback to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 after losing the first set.
This was her third victory over Gauff this year, maintaining her perfect record against the American in 2025. The match had a tense moment in the final set when Paolini twisted her ankle while chasing a forehand. After taking a short break with her trainer, she continued playing and managed to finish the match strongly.
Besides letting Paolini move into the semifinals, Gauff also left a pack of opportunities open for Iga Swiatek. According to the live WTA rankings table, Świątek has the chance to overtake the American and become the World No. 2.
As a result of Jasmine Paolini defeating Coco Gauff for the 3rd time in a row, Iga Swiatek will be world #2 and seeded 2nd at the U.S. Open if she wins Cincinnati.
— Vansh (@vanshv2k) August 16, 2025
However, there is a condition. For Świątek to reach that spot, she must first get past Elena Rybakina in her next match and then go on to win the Cincinnati Open. Currently sitting in the third position with 7323 points (551 points behind Gauff), the Pole will not only re-enter the Top 2 of the WTA rankings but will also be seeded second at the upcoming US Open.
Iga Świątek Will Play Her 10th Match Against Elena Rybakina at the Cincinnati Open
The Pole booked her place in the semifinals of the WTA 1000 event after a 6-3, 6-4 win over 28th seed Anna Kalinskaya. Here, she will lock horns with Elena Rybakina for the tenth time in her career. Świątek has a 5-4 head-to-head lead against the Kazakh.
Interestingly, the two have had three prior encounters in 2025, with the Pole coming out on top on each occasion. Whoever out of the two wins this time, will take on either Jasmine Paolini or Veronika Kudermetova in the Cincinnati Open final.
MORE: Coco Gauff Reveals the One Quality She Considers a Green Flag in Boyfriend Jalen Sera
