Gauff claims second WTA singles title with superb straight sets win over Wang at Emilia-Romagna Open in Parma

Coco Gauff is a winner once more on the WTA circuit with her second career singles title sealing a straight sets win 6-1, 6-3 against Qiang Wang at the Emilia-Romagna Open in Parma, Italy this afternoon.

Reaching the semi-finals at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome last week, Gauff has now gone all the way in the WTA 250 tournament as she continues to enjoy her Italian stay ahead of Roland Garros in the coming weeks.

It could yet be a double title win (singles/doubles) as she teams with familiar partner Caty McNally (McCoco) against Andreja Klepac and Darija Jurak (#2 seeds).

In doing so, she would become the youngest player to complete the feat since Maria Sharapova in 2004 at 17 years, 55 days old.

Only losing one set en route to her singles title, she becomes the 5th teenage winner this year alongside Iga Swiatek, Clara Tauson, Leylah Fernandez and Maria Osorio Serrano.

To begin the tie against Wang, An opening break saw her cement her authority early on going 2-0 up before Wang got into the match at 3-1 down to avert a potential bagel set later on for the young American.

Her route to a first set continued as she broke once more at 5-1 up before averting two straight double faults and three break points to take it back to deuce. The luck for her came in once more as she claimed the opening set 6-1 and looked to be potentially en route to a second title.

Wang went 30-0 up but suffered a double fault en route to making it 30-30 and she attempted to go toe-to-toe again with Gauff with variation in the form of a dropshot only for the latter to force deuce.

But an ace sealed the opening game for Wang as she held serve to defy the early pressure. Wang couldn’t mount the same pressure on Gauff’s serve as the latter sealed it 1-1 (40-15).

It remained on serve with Wang claiming the early impetus at 2-1. Gauff threatened to hand Wang an opportunity to break as she went up to five double faults but a superbly placed backhand saw it tied at 30-30 but the Chinese ace opened up the court before firing down a forehand to bring up a break point.

Gauff once again produced an excellent backhand to make it deuce after another double fault was potentially threatened. A slice backhand saw advantage brought up before Gauff came through unscathed at 2-2.

Wang scooped the ball out and Gauff herself brought up a break point of her own with Wang left frustrated as the American made it 3-2. Could she see it out from here?

This was consolidated by a hold of serve and Gauff looked like she had a real spring in her step at 4-2 up. Wang handed Gauff a potential fourth break but despite bringing up break point, deuce was forced from there.

Gauff found the angle exquisitely though to force another break point but this was to no avail once more as Wang continued to fight. It was flipped in favour of the sixth seed who was on advantage herself and this gutsy revival made it 4-3, only a break down and still in reach.

Gauff surged into 40-0 on her serve but another double fault threatened to derail her charge as Wang brought it back to 40-30 but another shot was scooped out allowing the former into a 5-3 lead and on the verge.

Championship points were brought up for Gauff and it was all smiles for the 17-year-old as she claimed it on the first time of asking.