Fourth seed Coco Gauff recorded a China Open semi-final win for the second year in a row by coming back from a set down to beat Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva 2-6, 6-2 and 6-2 in the quarter-final match.
Beijing is the third WTA 1000 semifinal for the 20-year-old American this year, and the first since Rome.
Gauff became the youngest consecutive semifinalist at the China Open since Maria Sharapova achieved the feat in 2004 and 2005.
Also read: Defeating Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz Wins China Open
Gauff will face 15th seed Paula Badosa on Saturday (5/10) for a place in her first final since winning in Auckland in January and her first at WTA 1000 level since winning in Cincinnati last summer.
Badosa holds a 3-2 lead over Gauff, who won their only meeting of the season on clay in Rome.
Gauff entered the week ranked sixth in the Race to the WTA Finals and her performance in Beijing strengthened her chances of qualifying for her third straight season-ending event.
Also read: Defeating Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz Advances to China Open Final
In their first meeting, Gauff overcame a slow start to defeat the rising Starodubtseva, who was playing in her second WTA quarterfinal in her WTA 1000 debut.
Ranked 115th, the 24-year-old Old Dominion University graduate had never lost a set in Beijing until Gauff rallied in the second.
“I’m just trying to remember what we have worked on on the training field. There are still a lot of things I have to adjust, so for me, the important thing is to trust the process and focus on that,” said Gauff, quoted from the WTA’s official website, Friday (4 /10).
Also read: Beat Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz to China Open Final
“Today, I couldn’t control the way I played or the way he played, but I could try to control my mindset and commit to the process,” he continued.
Starodubtseva dominated the opening set from the first game, immediately breaking Gauff’s error-prone serve.
She held Gauff to no winners, while hitting 10 winners herself.
Also read: Naomi Osaka advances to the last 16 of the Chinese Open
With Gauff struggling to find her serve rhythm and committing seven double faults, Starodubtseva maintained consistent return pressure. He generated nine break point opportunities and had three breaks in the 40-minute set.
Gauff responded by showing her courage as a champion. He saved two break points in his opening service game of the second set and broke for a 3-1 lead.
After sweeping two more break points to consolidate her lead, Gauff dropped just three games over the remainder of the match.
After forcing her way to a decider, Gauff opened a 3-0 lead early in the third and didn’t let Starodubtseva take control of the match.
Gauff faced no break points in the final set. He only lost four points when serving. (Ant/Z-1)
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