Coco Gauff roars back from summer slide to make China Open final

Coco Gauff will contest her first final in nine months at the China Open in Beijing. The American continued her encouraging fortnight after a difficult summer with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Paula Badosa in the semi-finals.

The Spaniard, one of the form players of recent months, had a big lead going into a set and 4-2, but Gauff responded with four games in a row to level the match and maintain her momentum in the deciding set.

“I’m really happy with how I was able to come back today,” Gauff said. “Paula is a difficult opponent and every time we play it is a difficult match. I knew mentally that I had to be there at every point and regardless of the result I am proud of how I was able to fight. It feels great to end it with a finale. I told my team: it’s a long two weeks, but it’s worth it.”

Gauff’s last final came in Auckland in January, when she defeated Elina Svitolina to claim her seventh tour-level title.

She will face Czech Karolina Muchova in the final, who followed up her attack on Aryna Sabalenka by beating home favorite Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-4.