Coco Gauff Rallies to Defeat Paula Badosa in Beijing Semifinal 2024, Secures First Final Since January
Coco Gauff pulled off an incredible comeback to upset Paula Badosa 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in an exciting semifinal match at the 2024 China Open, moving on to her first final since January.
The American, who was down a set and 4-2 in the match, showed tenacity and aggressive play to win the match and secure her place in the championship.
Paula Badosa had her hands on Coco Gauff’s semifinal spot in Beijing on Saturday, and the player was on the verge of elimination.
However, Gauff’s decisive stretch of play and her opponent’s sudden collapse allowed the No. 4 seed to turn the tables and win 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. Gauff’s prize is her first final appearance since she started her 2024 campaign in Auckland, where she successfully defended her title.
“I always grew up on the philosophy that the second set is the most important set, which it is because you either win the match or you stay in the match with that set,” Gauff told the media. “I’d rather be able to raise my level in the second set than kind of crash after the first.”
In the first set, Badosa held strong while Gauff missed numerous opportunities. Ten break points were avoided by the Spaniard, including seven in the eighth set, before her opponent was able to return to serving. The No. 4 seed made a spectacular drop shot on the 10th deuce and then displayed her defensive prowess to win the game, which ended in a marathon 26 points.
But Gauff’s efforts to restore harmony were short-lived. Immediately after, the American’s backhand went wide, and Badosa broke for the second time. The crazy set came to an end when Gauff mishandled a forehand off his racket.
In the second set, Badosa broke the deadlock early with a forehand pass that Gauff was unable to pick up. The 2023 US Open champion, who was having trouble with her first serve, bravely fought off four break points, seemingly going all out in her run of consecutive victories, to hold for 2-3.
That would prove to be a costly lesson for Badosa, as it was her chance to seize complete control. Serving at 4-3, she was broken again, but this time Gauff took advantage of the first opportunity to ask by increasing her aggressiveness. Three unforced errors in a row by Badosa put her down three set points, none of which were erased, after Gauff hit an ace to hold for 5-4.
Gauff scored eighteen points in a row after gaining fresh energy in the game and projecting confidence in her striking. Badosa managed to settle her down in time to return to serve, but his mishandled forehand cost him the match. Her last forehand went long, and she was unable to pressure the 20-year-old into serving it out.
Gauff won both of her matches against Badosa this season, bringing their head-to-head score to 3-3 (Rome fourth round). The Delray Beach, Florida resident, who won at Cincinnati in 2023, is vying for her second WTA 1000 title. Gauff is waiting for Zheng Qinwen, the fifth seed, and Karolina Muchova, the Czech.
