The fourth-seeded Cori Coco Gauff (USA) qualified for the semi-finals of the WTA 1000 China Open after a fantastic comeback against the Ukrainian sensation Yulia Starodubtseva. The American tennis player defeated her opponent by 2-1 (2:6, 6:2, 6:2) in 1:53 hours of play.
Cori Coco Gauff started the match very timidly and her opponent used it to break twise and take a lead by 4:1. Although the American tennis player returned one of the breaks for 4:2, her opponent won the next two games and closed the set at 6:2. However, Cori Coco Gauff was unstoppable in the next two sets and turnover the score and won the match.
Cori Coco Gauff reached her third WTA 1000 semifinal this season and first since Rome Open. She is the youngest two consecutive time semi-finalist in the Chinese capital since Maria Sharapova in 2004 and 2005.
Cori Coco Gauff will face 15th seed Paula Badosa for a place in her first final since winning the title in Oakland in January and first at the WTA 1000 level since the trophy in Cincinnati last summer.