Coco Gauff finally returns to a circuit final, nine months after her victory in Auckland in January. The American, who beat Paula Badosa in three sets (4-6, 6-4, 6-2) on Saturday in Beijing, will face the Chinese Qinwen Zheng (7th in the world) or the Czech Karolina Muchova, 49th, in the final. The winner of the 2023 US Open is aiming for an eighth title on the circuit, at only 20 years old. In September, she parted ways with her trainer after a series of poor results.
Against the 26-year-old Spaniard, former world No.2 who had fallen to 19th place, Coco Gauff alternated between very good moments and very bad ones (notably 11 double faults) and ended up winning mentally. At 6-4, 3-1, Badosa seemed to be heading towards a victory in two sets. But Gauff then saved four break points to stay in contact.
Relaunched in this second set, the American then recovered at 4-4 to finally equalize at one set all. “I tried to stay focused, it was difficult but mentally I had to start from scratch.” Gauff said to explain this reversal. In the third set, she did not avoid some scares, in particular by offering her service when she could lead 3-0, allowing the Spaniard to believe in a comeback. But Badosa did not take advantage of the opportunity, losing his serve in the process.
Coco Gauff then no longer trembled and won in 2h20 following a new direct error from the Spaniard. In the final on Sunday, the American will try to win the 8th title of her career, the second of the season after Auckland.
