In the sun-drenched cauldron of Beijing’s National Tennis Center, where the air hums with the crack of strings and the roar of a passionate crowd, Coco Gauff is once again scripting her dominance on the hard courts of the China Open. The 21-year-old American phenom, world No. 3 and defending champion, stormed into the semifinals on Thursday with a gritty 6-3, 6-4 victory over Germany’s Eva Lys, marking her third straight appearance in the final four at this prestigious WTA 1000 event. It’s a statement win that reignites her title quest, positioning her as the highest-ranked player left in the draw after the early exits of top seeds like Iga Swiatek and the absence of Aryna Sabalenka. For Gauff, who claimed the trophy last year by outlasting Karolina Muchová in a tense final—and even toppled her en route to her maiden 1000 crown at the 2023 Cincinnati Open—this run feels like destiny calling her back to the summit.
Gauff’s path to the semifinals hasn’t been a cakewalk; it’s been a testament to her evolving resilience amid a season of highs and hurdles. Since lifting the French Open singles title in June—her second Grand Slam crown after the 2023 US Open—Gauff has navigated a rollercoaster. A quarterfinal showing in Cincinnati offered glimmers of form, but disappointments followed: a shocking first-round tumble at Wimbledon and a last-16 exit at the US Open, where the pressure of expectations weighed heavy. “This is my first semifinal since Paris,” Gauff reflected afterward, her voice carrying the quiet fire of someone who’s learned to channel setbacks into fuel. “I’m happy with how I played today. She’s a tough opponent—she hit a couple of great shots on the run. I think I need to stay confident in my game and not be too passive when I have the lead.” Those words underscore her growth; no longer the wide-eyed teen who burst onto the scene, Gauff now dissects her matches with the precision of a veteran, blending raw athleticism with tactical maturity.
The quarterfinal clash with Lys was a high-octane affair, a first-time meeting between two rising forces that had the Beijing faithful on the edge of their seats. Lys, the 23-year-old qualifier who’s been on a tear—upsetting higher seeds en route to her deepest run at a WTA 1000—arrived hungry for her maiden title, her powerful groundstrokes and fearless baseline play making her a wildcard threat. The first set alone was a break-fest thriller, with the pair exchanging five consecutive service breaks in a dizzying display of aggression and opportunism. Gauff’s serve, usually a fortress, wobbled under pressure, conceding seven break-point chances across the match. Yet, Lys could convert only three, while Gauff pounced mercilessly on her opponent’s delivery, breaking five times to seize control. The turning point came late in the opener: locked in a grueling rally, Gauff unleashed an exquisite drop shot that kissed the net and died on the line, snatching the break and the set with a flourish of artistry. The second set followed suit—Lys pushing hard but faltering on key points—as Gauff closed it out in 1 hour and 38 minutes, her 28 winners to Lys’s 22 edging the efficiency battle.
What makes this victory sing isn’t just the scoreline; it’s the layers of drama woven into Gauff’s performance. She absorbed Lys’s booming forehands with her trademark speed, covering the court like a gazelle while firing back with venomous returns that kept the German off-balance. Stats tell the tale: Gauff won 72% of her first-serve points and converted five of eight break opportunities, turning potential vulnerabilities into strengths. “She’s a tough opponent, she hit some incredible shots on the run,” Gauff added, tipping her cap to Lys’s flair. “I was trying my best to stay aggressive. Just staying confident in my game and not being too passive.” In a sport where mental fortitude often decides finals before they begin, Gauff’s ability to reset after those early breaks speaks volumes. It’s the same poise that saw her rally from a set down against Muchová here last October, clinching her eighth career title and etching her name deeper into the China Open lore—a tournament she’s now unbeaten in semifinals.
The plot thickens with an all-American showdown awaiting in Friday’s semifinal: Gauff versus Amanda Anisimova, the resurgent Florida native who clawed her way through a nearly three-hour epic against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4. Anisimova, a former Wimbledon and US Open junior champion who’s battled back from burnout and injury, has been a revelation this fall, qualifying for the WTA Finals for the first time in her career. Her quarterfinal triumph—edging the world No. 4 after dropping the opener—was a masterclass in grit, with 42 winners showcasing the flat, piercing groundstrokes that once terrorized the tour. For Gauff, who shares a training history with Anisimova from their junior days, it’s a matchup laced with familiarity and firepower. “Amanda’s playing some of her best tennis right now,” Gauff might concede, knowing a win here would not only defend her crown but also propel her toward an 11th career title and solidify her chase for year-end No. 1 contention.
This semifinal isn’t just a clash of styles—Gauff’s all-court versatility against Anisimova’s laser-like precision—it’s a milestone moment for American women’s tennis, evoking echoes of the golden eras dominated by the Williams sisters. As the draw thins, other storylines simmer: Britain’s Sonay Kartal, fresh off a career-best upset over world No. 5 Mirra Andreeva, faces Linda Noskova in the quarters, while Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro gear up for their own stars-and-stripes battle. Swiatek’s shocking third-round drubbing by Navarro—a 6-0 bagel in the decider—has blown the top half wide open, handing Gauff a clearer path to the final.
Under Beijing’s golden autumn skies, Gauff’s journey feels electric, a blend of redemption and reinvention. From the qualifier who stunned the world at Flushing Meadows to the Grand Slam champion now eyeing a Beijing double, her story is one of unyielding ambition. As she prepares to trade blows with Anisimova, the echoes of her drop-shot magic linger, a reminder that in tennis’s grand theater, champions don’t just win matches—they inspire eras. With the title on the line and history beckoning, Gauff is poised to remind everyone why she’s the queen of these courts, one ferocious rally at a time.
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