World No 4 Coco Gauff earned her 50th WTA main draw win of the year as she beat Magda Linette 6-0 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Wuhan Open on Friday, potentially setting up a semifinal clash with top seed Aryna Sabalenka.
The win streak continues 🔥🔥🔥@CocoGauff is into another WTA 1000 semifinal! She awaits the winner of Sabalenka vs. Frech! #WuhanOpen pic.twitter.com/kZKk50OOoZ
— wta (@WTA) October 11, 2024
Former US Open champion Gauff, who has made some grip changes with new coach Matt Daly, struggled with double faults over both sets but was dominant with her returns in the victory over an error-prone Linette.
raising the level 📈@CocoGauff secures her spot into the final four after defeating Linette 6-0, 6-4. #WuhanOpen pic.twitter.com/ck8xRNKETO
— wta (@WTA) October 11, 2024
"I played well... overall, maybe two bad games," 20-year-old Gauff said in the post-match interview after extending her winning streak to nine matches.
Linette came close to breaking Gauff twice in the first set but Gauff saved four break points to hold both games, also winning 14 of 21 return points as the Polish former Australian Open semifinalist fell to a bagel.
locked in 🔒@CocoGauff takes the first set over Linette and is one set way from the semifinals! #WuhanOpen pic.twitter.com/7UlxXjEp6Q
— wta (@WTA) October 11, 2024
Gauff, who made eight double faults in the match, faced a tougher battle in the second set, but one of Linette's 22 unforced errors gave the American an edge in the seventh game as she got the only break of the set, which sealed the win.
50 - Coco Gauff is the 3rd player to make 50+ WTA main draw wins in 2024 after Swiatek and Sabalenka: they are the first trio to secure this milestone for consecutive seasons since 2008-2009 (Safina, Dementieva, Wozniacki & Pennetta). Landmark. #wuhanopen | @wuhanopentennis pic.twitter.com/EzGbSCVdIb
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) October 11, 2024
The winner of Friday's third quarterfinal, between US Open champion Sabalenka and Magdalena Frech, will play Gauff on Saturday.
"I've played them both before, they're tough opponents," Gauff said.
Third seed Jasmine Paolini plays fifth seed Zheng Qinwen in another quarterfinal later in the day, while Ekaterina Alexandrova faces Wang Xinyu.