Reuters
[Photo Credit: Reuters]
Coco Gauff put down a spirited challenge from Eva Lys to earn a 6-3 6-4 victory on Thursday and set up a China Open semi-final against fellow American Amanda Anisimova, who overcame a first-set stumble to beat Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 6-7(4) 6-3 6-4.
Gauff, who is bidding to become the first woman to win back-to-back titles at the WTA 1000 event, had battled through three-setters in the previous two rounds and had to overcome stiff resistance from the 66th-ranked German.
It was a fast and furious start to the first set as both players fired off a string of winners and traded early breaks as the momentum swung wildly.
Following a run of five straight breaks of serve it was defending champion Gauff who finally seized control, taking a 5-3 lead when Lys sent a backhand wide and then consolidating to clinch the first set.
The world number three appeared to have found her range on serve in the second set and eased through a couple of holds, but a brief wobble and a few double-faults from the American added some late drama.
Serving for the match at 5-4, however, Gauff held her nerve to close out the win in an hour and 28 minutes.
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