Coco Gauff, the reigning 2023 US Open champion, fought through a challenging quarter-final match at the China Open, defeating the 115th-ranked Anna Starodubtseva 2-6, 6-2, 6-2. Gauff, who recently parted ways with her coach Brad Gilbert, struggled with her serve early on but managed to recover and secure a spot in the semi-finals. The 20-year-old American will face Spain’s Paula Badosa in the next round.
Gauff got off to a rough start, dropping the first set as Starodubtseva capitalized on her shaky serve. The American, seeded fourth in the tournament, regrouped in the second set, breaking her opponent’s serve and finding her rhythm. Gauff then took control of the match, winning the second and third sets convincingly to advance.
Paula Badosa, the former world number two, booked her semi-final spot by defeating China’s Zhang Shuai 6-1, 7-6. Badosa ended Zhang’s incredible run, which saw the 595th-ranked player reach the quarter-finals after winning four matches, a remarkable feat given Zhang’s struggles with injuries and her 24-match losing streak earlier in the year.
Zhang, a two-time Grand Slam singles quarter-finalist, had defied the odds to make it this far, delighting home fans in Beijing. However, against Badosa, she faltered early, losing the first set in just 23 minutes due to a flurry of unforced errors. The second set was more competitive, but Badosa maintained her composure in the tie-break to clinch the win.
Gauff’s upcoming semi-final clash with Badosa promises to be a fascinating encounter, with both players eager to secure a spot in the final. Gauff, chasing her eighth singles title, will look to build on her comeback victory, while Badosa aims to win her first title since 2021.
In other quarter-final action, top seed Aryna Sabalenka is set to face Karolina Muchova for a place in the semi-finals. The winner of that match will go up against either Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva or China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen.
The China Open has showcased thrilling performances from both rising stars and seasoned veterans, with the competition heating up as the tournament reaches its final stages. Gauff’s resurgence and Zhang’s unexpected run have been among the standout stories so far.
