Match Reaction

By the Numbers: Gauff improves to 5-0 against Samsonova to reach Cincinnati third round

Match Reaction
1m read 17 Aug 2026 1h ago
Coco Gauff, Day 6
Jimmie48/WTA

No. 4 seed Coco Gauff recovered from a set down to defeat Liudmila Samsonova 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 and advance to the third round of the Cincinnati Open on Sunday night. She will face No. 28 seed and fellow American Ann Li for a spot in the round of 16.

After Samsonova won the first set 6-2, Gauff earned a critical break in the 10th game of the second set to force a decider. The 2023 champion dominated the third set, winning the final five games to complete the comeback in 2 hours, 6 minutes.

Here are some key stats from Gauff's latest win:

5: This was Gauff's fifth win in as many matches against Samsonova on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz. Three of those wins have now come in three sets, with Samsonova winning the first set each time before Gauff rallied to win.

10: This was her 10th comeback win of the season, rallying from a set down to win in three sets. She ties compatriot Jessica Pegula for the most such wins on tour in 2026.

15: This was Gauff's 15th three-set win of the season, the most by any player on the WTA Tour in 2026.

20: The win was Gauff's 20th on hard courts in 2026. She is seeking her first WTA title this year, with her best result on hardcourts coming at the Miami Open, where she finished runner-up.

35: This was the 22-year-old's 35th WTA-level match win of 2026, tying her with Karolina Muchova. Only five players have more WTA-level match wins this season: Elina Svitolina, Pegula, Elena Rybakina, Mirra Andreeva and Aryna Sabalenka.

Gauff will next face No. 28 seed Li for a spot in the round of 16. Li defeated Zhang Shuai 7-5, 6-3 earlier Sunday. Gauff leads the head-to-head series 3-0, winning all three previous meetings in straight sets.