Coco Gauff has successfully secured her place in the semi-finals of the prestigious China Open, where she is set to face the talented and in-form Spaniard, Paula Badosa. This marks an exciting return to this stage for Gauff, who is a former Grand Slam champion, demonstrating her impressive resilience and skill in the competition.
In a thrilling quarter-final match on Thursday, Gauff showcased her tenacity as she came back from a set down to triumph over Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva, with a final score of 2-6, 6-2, 6-2. The American had a rocky start, quickly losing the first set in a fashion that highlighted her struggle during that period. However, Gauff’s determination shone through as she made crucial adjustments in her gameplay.
This quarter-final victory is particularly significant as it marks Gauff’s third appearance in a WTA 1000 semi-final this year—her first since her performance in Rome. The semi-final match promises to be an exhilarating contest, pitting her against Badosa, who is also in remarkable form, having recently ended the surprise run of local wild card Zhang Shuai in her own quarter-final match.
Starodubtseva, who started the week as the world No. 115, was on a commendable streak, having not lost a set throughout her previous matches leading to the quarter-finals. The first set went according to her plan, as she quickly seized the lead against Gauff, who appeared to struggle with her errors. However, Gauff’s experience and mental strength became evident as she faced challenges.
As Gauff entered the second set, she faced two break points in her opening service game but showcased her growing confidence by saving them and then breaking Starodubtseva’s serve. This pivotal moment established her dominance, allowing Gauff to rally and claim control of the match. Despite a tricky moment in her subsequent service game, she managed to tighten her play and breezed through to victory by only conceding three additional games afterward.
On the other side of the tournament, Paula Badosa continued her remarkable run, defeating Zhang Shuai in a commanding 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) quarter-final victory. Badosa’s performance solidified her return to form as she achieved 28 wins in her last 35 matches, an impressive statistic that underlines her prowess on the court. Moreover, the Spaniard has reached the semi-finals in three of her last five tournaments, following up with a solid run to the US Open quarter-finals just last month.
As the semi-final clash between Gauff and Badosa looms, all eyes will be on both players as they battle for a spot in the finals of the China Open, each aiming to add another remarkable chapter to their growing careers.
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