Coco Gauff extends win streak to 15 in Beijing

Field Level Media|published: Thu 5th October, 11:27 2023

Sep 9, 2023; Flushing, NY, USA; Coco Gauff of the United States serves against Aryna Sabalenka (not pictured) in the women's singles final on day thirteen of the 2023 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center. credits: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3 seed Coco Gauff defeated No. 16 Veronika Kudermetova of Russia 7-6 (5), 6-2 on Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals at the China Open in Beijing.

It was the 15th consecutive win for the 19-year-old American and reigning U.S. Open champion, the longest streak this season on the WTA Tour. Gauff is 21-1 since her first-round loss at Wimbledon.

"The first two matches, I think I was disappointed in the way that I was playing," Gauff said. "I think I was playing a little bit more tight, not going for my shots, not going for my serve. Today I was telling myself try to hit above 110 (mph), 115 as much as I could, be more aggressive."

Gauff converted three of four break points and got off to fast starts, taking a 3-0 lead in the first set and a 4-0 edge in the second.

She maintained her composure when Kudermetova rallied, pulling ahead 5-4 and serving at 40-0 in the opening set. Gauff fought off four set points and eventually forced the tiebreak.

"In the long run ... I feel like now that the pressure is off, now that the Grand Slam season is over and I'm qualified (for the WTA Finals), I think this could be a good week to continue to work on things I need to work on," she said. "Today I think I approached the match like that. I wish I did it earlier."

Gauff will face No. 6 seed Maria Sakkari of Greece, who survived a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 challenge from home favorite Xinyu Wang in two hours and 31 minutes.

Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus held off unseeded Italian Jasmine Paolini for a 6-4, 7-6 (4) win in the third round. The World No. 1 smashed 16 aces and saved five of eight break points to set up a quarterfinal clash against No. 5 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan.

"It's always great battles against Elena. I think I just have to focus on myself, play aggressive and just play my game," Sabalenka said. "I know that I'll have some chances to win this match. In the last match I lost, I got nervous a little bit and I rushed a little bit more. The key against Elena is just to stay calm, stay aggressive, and not over-rush things."

Ninth-seeded Caroline Garcia of France rolled into the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina in 83 minutes. Garcia will take on No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek of Poland for a shot at the semifinals in the WTA 1000 event.

—Field Level Media

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