Coco Gauff has just booked her 10th consecutive Beijing win after ousting world No. 66 Eva Lys 6-3 6-4 to reach the semifinal.
Playing against Lys for the first time in her career, Gauff claimed two early breaks, but both times got quickly broken back. However, the second-seeded American remained unfazed and registered her third break in the eighth game for a 5-3 lead before closing out the opener in the following game.
Something a bit similar happened in the second set as Gauff had an early break, but Lys managed to get it back. But once again, the two-time Grand Slam champion didn't panic as she took the German's serve once again in the seventh game. Up by a set and a break, the American held on to her serve for the rest of the match to complete a two-set win.
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In the Beijing semifinal, the second-seeded American faces the winner of the match between No. 3 seed Amanda Anisimova and sixth-seeded Jasmine Paolini.
Gauff didn't have many expectations for Beijing but now she is the main favorite for the title
After arriving in Beijing, the 21-year-old claimed she "did not feel like the defending champion" and that she would treat the China Open as "a practice tournament."
Although technically Im the defending champion [in Beijing], it doesnt feel like that at all. I dont want to say not care because obviously Im not playing a tournament and trying to lose or anything... But yeah, there is definitely a weight that you kind of just dont care in a way, especially when youve had like a good moment of the season. I think winning the French Open helped me take that weight off less. It feels, again, like a practice tournament. So well see how it goes," the American said in her pre-tournament presser.
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Considering how Gauff has played at the China Open so far and that top seed Iga Swiatekis out, the American is now the No. 1 favorite for the main glory.
