Coco Gauff showcased her resilience as she battled back from a shaky start to defeat Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva, advancing to the semifinals of the China Open in Beijing. The fourth-seeded American triumphed with a scoreline of 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 in a match that lasted 1 hour and 51 minutes.
Gauff’s performance was marked by early struggles, where she found herself overwhelmed by Starodubtseva’s aggressive play. The Ukrainian took a commanding lead in the first set, capitalizing on Gauff’s seven double faults and displaying an impressive 10-0 advantage in winners. Gauff acknowledged the challenge, noting that she was facing Starodubtseva for the first time and had to rely heavily on her training. “I was just trying to remember what we’ve been working on on the practice court,” she reflected post-match. “It’s still a lot of things I’m adjusting to, so for me, it’s about trusting the process.”
As the match progressed, Gauff’s mental fortitude began to shine through. In the second set, she saved two critical break points in her opening service game, which helped her regain momentum. By tightening her focus and committing to her strategies, Gauff managed to wrestle control from Starodubtseva, ultimately taking the second set with relative ease. The shift in energy was palpable, as Gauff’s serve improved significantly; she won an impressive 78.6 percent of her first-serve points and saved 10 of 13 break points throughout the match. Her determination proved vital in turning the tide, allowing her to win the final set decisively.
Looking ahead, Gauff will face 15th-seeded Paula Badosa in the semifinals. Badosa secured her place in the final four by defeating Chinese wild card Shuai Zhang in straight sets, 6-1, 7-6 (4). The Spanish player is riding a wave of confidence, having won 28 of her last 35 matches and secured her third semifinal berth in just five tournaments. Badosa’s performance against Zhang included ten aces and a capitalizing on 22 unforced errors from her opponent, showcasing her aggressive style and tactical acumen.
Badosa expressed respect for Zhang, who had entered the tournament on a 24-match losing streak but found herself motivated by the home crowd. “She was playing at a very high level, not the ranking that shows or the dynamic she was going through,” Badosa noted. “I started really strong with my ideas very clear and playing very aggressively. Everything was going my way.”
In their upcoming semifinal matchup, Badosa holds a slight edge in their head-to-head record, leading Gauff 3-2. However, Gauff won their only encounter this season in Rome, indicating that the upcoming match could be tightly contested. Both players will need to bring their best to advance to the final, making for an exciting clash that promises high-level tennis.
As Gauff continues her journey through the tournament, she remains focused on her process and the mental aspects of her game. With her ability to adjust mid-match and a newfound confidence, she is poised to take on the challenge against Badosa, setting the stage for what could be a thrilling semifinal showdown.
