(Beijing) The American Coco Gauff, 6e world, manhandled by the Spaniard Paula Badosa, 19eended up winning on Saturday in three sets 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, to qualify for the final of the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing.
Gauff finally returns to a circuit final nine months after his victory in Auckland in January. She will face the Chinese Qinwen Zheng (7e world) or the Czech Karolina Muchova, 49edefeater of Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, world No.2, in the quarter.
The winner of the 2023 US Open is aiming for an eighth title on the circuit, at just 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 has fallen back to 19e rank, 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 2 hours 20 thanks to a new direct error from the Spaniard.
In the final on Sunday, the American will try to win the eighth title of her career, the second of the season after Auckland.