Coco Gauff, the second-seeded American tennis star, has secured her place in the semifinals of the China Open for the second consecutive year. In a crucial round-robin contest on Tuesday in Beijing, Gauff had to withstand a tough challenge from the talented Eva Lys. She prevailed 6-3, 6-4. This win is a testament to Gauff’s incredible momentum and development during her run at this year’s tournament. It further positions her as a commanding candidate for back-to-back crowns at this exclusive WTA 10000 event.
Gauff showed a ton of resolve in this match, finding her bold aggression again after having survived a pair of third-setters in her opening two rounds. She faced strong opposition from her similarly ranked 66th place opponent, Lys. She took command of the match early, building a 5-3 advantage in the first set. A forehand down the line from Gauff and a wide backhand from Lys would let Gauff consolidate to 4-1, winning the first set 6-2 emphatically.
In the second set, Gauff had the opportunity to serve for the match at 5-4 in that set. She exemplified keeping your cool in a crisis. Displaying nerves of steel under pressure, she closed out the win in only one hour and 28 minutes of play. This victory marks Gauff’s first semifinal appearance since the French Open in June, showcasing her return to form as she aims to reinforce her status in women’s tennis.
Up next for Gauff will be a matchup against either Amanda Anisimova or Jasmine Paolini. They’re set to play in the asf2 quarterfinal number two on Thursday afternoon. All the pressure will be on Gauff in the upcoming final. She hopes to win her second straight title at the China Open!
Looking back on her performance against Lys, Gauff was pleased with the amount of smart play, saying,
“I’m happy with how I played today. She’s a tough opponent; she hit a couple of great shots on the run.”
She reflected on the need to keep their confidence level up and focus on being aggressive in their play during games.
“I think I need to stay confident in my game and not be too passive when I have the lead. I played one passive point in this match, but otherwise I played well.”
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Gauff. She then turned her focus toward the China Open where she could make history by becoming the first woman to win back-to-back titles. After her high-flying performance and relentless attitude, fans and analysts alike are expecting a thrilling semifinal matchup.
