Coco Gauff will contest her first final in nine months at the China Open in Beijing. The American continued her encouraging fortnight after a difficult summer with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Paula Badosa in the semi-finals.
The Spaniard, one of the form players of recent months, had a big lead going into a set and 4-2, but Gauff responded with four games in a row to level the match and maintain her momentum in the deciding set.
“I’m really happy with how I was able to come back today,” Gauff said. “Paula is a difficult opponent and every time we play it is a difficult match. I knew mentally that I had to be there at every point and regardless of the result I am proud of how I was able to fight. It feels great to end it with a finale. I told my team: it’s a long two weeks, but it’s worth it.”
Gauff’s last final came in Auckland in January, when she defeated Elina Svitolina to claim her seventh tour-level title.
She will face Czech Karolina Muchova in the final, who followed up her attack on Aryna Sabalenka by beating home favorite Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-4.
