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Day 6 at the Cincinnati Open 2025 delivered contrasting fortunes for two of the biggest names in women’s tennis. World No. 1 Iga Swiatek advanced without breaking a sweat—literally—after receiving a walkover into the next round, while home favorite Coco Gauff fought tooth and nail to punch her ticket to the fourth round.
For Swiatek, the path forward was unexpectedly smooth. Her scheduled opponent, citing a last-minute injury, withdrew just hours before they were due to step on court. The Pole now heads into the quarterfinals fresh and rested—a double-edged sword in tournament play. On one hand, the extra recovery could prove priceless during a grueling week. On the other, Swiatek will need to find her rhythm quickly against tougher competition, especially on the fast Cincinnati hard courts where timing is everything.
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff’s day was anything but routine. Playing in front of an electric American crowd, the reigning US Open champion faced a determined opponent who refused to give her an inch. The opening set was a tense affair, with both players trading heavy baseline blows and daring net approaches. But Gauff’s athleticism, tactical variety, and ability to summon clutch serves at critical moments proved decisive. After securing a gritty first set, she unleashed her full arsenal in the second—mixing in sharp angles, fearless forehands, and crowd-pumping fist pumps—to seal a straight-sets win that was far closer than the score suggested.
For the fans, Gauff’s performance was a reminder of why she’s quickly become America’s tennis darling: fearless under pressure, electric in her shot-making, and humble in victory. For Swiatek, the walkover means she’ll enter her next match well-rested but without the benefit of competitive reps from this round—something her rivals will no doubt hope to exploit.
As the tournament heats up, the prospect of a deep Swiatek-Gauff showdown looms tantalizingly close. One advanced without lifting her racket, the other through sheer willpower and grit—but both remain firmly on course in Cincinnati. And if the tennis gods are kind, the city might just get a blockbuster clash between the sport’s reigning queen and America’s brightest star before the week is done.
Musa
