Coco Gauff, the fourth seed, displayed remarkable resilience by coming from behind to defeat Paula Badosa and secure a spot in her first-ever China Open final. The 20-year-old American triumphed 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 after two hours and 21 minutes of intense play.

Facing early pressure, Gauff found herself a set and a break down, with Spaniard Badosa, ranked 19th globally, in control at 4-3 in the second set. However, Gauff mounted a fierce comeback, breaking Badosa’s serve and winning four consecutive games to shift the momentum in her favor. From there, she dominated the decider to claim a hard-fought victory.

Gauff will now face either unseeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic or China’s home favorite, Qinwen Zheng, in the final.

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Despite struggling with 11 double faults throughout the match, Gauff stayed composed, saving four break points at a crucial moment in the second set. This mental toughness helped her break Badosa’s rhythm and capitalize on her opponent’s dip in form.

The victory marks a significant achievement for Gauff, who has been working with new coach Matt Daly since parting ways with Brad Gilbert after her fourth-round exit at the US Open last month. As she looks to add to her title from Auckland earlier this year, Gauff’s focus and resilience continue to shine on the court.

Badosa, who has surged in form after dropping to 140th in the rankings earlier this year, had a strong showing in Beijing, including a victory over second seed Jessica Pegula in the last 16. Despite the loss, she tested Gauff’s limits, particularly in the first set, showcasing her own fighting spirit.