Coco Gauff will contest the final of the 2024 China Open in Beijing on Sunday against either Karolina Muchova or Qinwen Zheng who face off shortly. She sealed a comeback win over Paula Badosa to complete the feat.
Gauff came back from 4-6, 2-4 down to defeat Badosa 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in perhaps a match that she would've folded under the pressure in a few months ago during the American hard court swing.
But she showed her valiant fighting spirit to stop the Spaniard surging ahead towards the finishing line and gaining her own slice of history in her resurgence. It is just the second WTA 1000 final of her career and is a huge week for her with her new coach Matt Daly. She did hit 11 double faults today showing that this facet of her game isn't full eradicated.
But it has got better than previously and she is putting it all together when it matters most in Beijing. While Badosa on the otherhand can keep her head held high. From having to undergo injections six months ago to have to even continue her career to being in with a shout for the WTA Finals and at her best since her rise to World Number Two. It has been a rocky road, but this week has shown that she very much still has the game to trouble the world's best.
While Gauff is through to her first main tour final since January. It has not been an easy season to back up 2023 where she hit her biggest heights. But she will hope heading towards Wuhan and the WTA Finals to seal a return to the winners' circle in a final she will be favourite in.
Albeit both Muchova and Qinwen Zheng have been playing perhaps the best tennis out of the two semi-finals this week. The Czech ace in particular like at the US Open has barely been troubled and has been showing that in the absence of Swiatek, Rybakina among others that she is one of the best in the world right now. While Qinwen Zheng has the home crowd factor and also has barely lost a match in recent months herself so a great semi-final awaits shortly. The winner faces Gauff.
20yo Coco Gauff comes back from 4-6, 2-4 to beat Paula Badosa 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 and reach the final in Beijing. Just the 2nd WTA 1000 final of her career. Huge week for her in her first tournament with the new coach, even playing farrrrr from her best (11 DFs today).
