Coco Gauff thrashed Marta Kostyuk on Thursday to reach the Quarter-Finals of the 2024 Wuhan Open on Thursday in a match-up that ordinarily provides some issues for her.
Gauff bested Kostyuk in 61 minutes to claim an eighth straight win on tour. She won the China Open last week and could become the second player to win both WTA 1000 titles in a row behind Caroline Garcia in 2017.
In particular on return, Gauff was stunning. She converted all five of her break point opportunities that she gathered whilst only dropping serve once in the second game of the match.
After a tight set, it was free flowing tennis from the American she won 26 out of 35 points with Kostyuk ironically doing what Gauff usually trips up on which is double faults including on match point.
Usually a match-up that bamboozles Gauff, Kostyuk provided to be an easier test than expected today as she moves on to face Magda Linette.
"I'm really happy with how I played today," Gauff said after her win. "It was a pretty straightforward match. Marta and I always have some good battles. Today I was able to get through in straight sets."
She has not played Linette since the 2021 US Open which Gauff said was a long time ago. The Pole who didn't get the best reception in Wuhan after controversial tweets rolled on after seeing off Daria Kasatkina.
"That match, it's so long ago," Gauff said. "I practiced with [Linette] multiple times in between. She lives in south Florida. She's a tough opponent. ... She's been playing a great couple of matches here in Wuhan. I expect it to be a tough match."
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