Gauff and Fernandez Set for Third Round Duel in Beijing

BEIJING, China — Coco Gauff and Leylah Fernandez both advanced to the third round of the China Open on Friday. Gauff defeated Kamilla Rakhimova with a score of 6-4, 6-0, while Fernandez secured her first victory against Maria Sakkari in four tries, winning 6-2, 6-0.

Gauff, the reigning champion, showed resilience after saving eight break points in a tense opening set. She then dominated the second set, wrapping up the match in 1 hour and 43 minutes. In her previous matches, Gauff struggled early but maintained her composure. “I’m happy with how I played,” Gauff said. “I thought it was a good match overall. I’m super happy to be back here in Beijing.”

The American took control of the match by breaking Rakhimova at the beginning of the second set. With this victory, Gauff notched her 11th career main-draw win in Beijing, a strong trend of success since 2021 that positions her third in WTA victories in China.

Meanwhile, Fernandez breezed through her match, breaking Sakkari in the opening game and converting all five break points she faced. This match took just 1 hour and 14 minutes, showcasing Fernandez’s powerful service game and strategic play.

Both players are now set to meet for the third time; Gauff has won all previous encounters, leaving Fernandez eager to secure her first set and win against Gauff. “I’m looking forward to facing Coco, it will be a tough match,” Fernandez stated.

As the anticipation builds, fans are excited for their showdown. The match is crucial not only for their standings in the tournament but also as they help bolster their rankings leading into the WTA Finals.