September 1, 2024; Flushing, New York, USA; Coco Gauff (USA) poses with Emma Navarro (USA) won the third set. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images Fourth seed Coco Gauff overcame a sluggish start to beat Ukrainian qualifier Yulia Staro 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the quarterfinals of the China Open on Thursday. Yuliia Starodubtseva, the score is 2-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Gauff won 78.6 percent of her first serve points and saved 10 of 13 break points while overcoming 11 double faults to defeat Staro Dubuseva in 1 hour and 51 minutes. The former U.S. Open champion advanced to her second consecutive semifinals in Beijing, where she will face No. 15 seed Paola Badosa of Spain, who defeated the Chinese wild card 6-1, 7-6(4). Player Zhang Shuai.
Badosa leads Goff 3-2 in two games, but the latter won his only game of the season in Rome.
On Thursday, however, Gauff found herself in unfamiliar territory when she faced Staro Dubuseva for the first time.
“I just want to remember what we did on the practice field,” Goff said. “I still have a lot to adapt to, so it's important for me to trust the process and focus on that.
“Today, I couldn't control the way I played or the way she played, but I could try to control my mentality and commit to the process.”
The match didn't look good at the start, with Starodubtseva leading 10-0 on the winning goal and Gauff committing seven double faults. However, Gauff turned things around in the second set, saving two break points in the first set and two more to take control of the match.
Badosa earned its 28th win in the past 35 games and defeated its opponent in 1 hour, 23 minutes in the past five games to clinch its third semifinal berth.
Badosa proved that with ten aces, and he also took advantage of Zhang's 22 unforced errors.
“She's playing at a very high level and not showing the rankings or dynamics she's going through. And I know she's playing with a home crowd, which is always extra motivation,” Badosa said.
“I started very strong, I was thinking very clearly and playing very aggressive. Everything went my way. In the second set, I think she raised her level. She played more aggressive, Also go online more.
The defeat ended a magical journey for Zhang Yimou, who entered the tournament on a 24-game losing streak.
–Scene-level media