Coco Gauff showed grit and precision as she marched into the China Open third round with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Kamilla Rakhimova on Friday. The reigning champion handled intense early pressure, saving eight break points in the first set before racing through the second. The match lasted 1 hour and 43 minutes and marked her 11th career main-draw win in Beijing — a testament to her growing dominance in China.
Gauff Settles In as Title Defense Gains Momentum
Facing Rakhimova for the first time, Coco Gauff endured a shaky opening game that included two double faults and four break points. Yet, she recovered quickly, denying every opportunity and later breaking serve with a powerful backhand winner — one of several highlights from the American’s performance.
“I’m happy with how I played,” Gauff said. “(Rakhimova) played well starting off, and I was just getting used to the conditions, but I thought it was a good match overall. I’m super happy to be back here in Beijing. Obviously, I had great memories last year, and I’m hoping to make some more good memories here.”
After wrapping up the first set under pressure, Gauff shifted gears in the second, breaking in the opening game and never allowing Rakhimova back into the contest. She closed out the match by winning the last seven games, finishing with an ace that sealed her dominant win.
Gauff’s record in China continues to impress — since 2021, only Zheng Qinwen and Katerina Siniakova have recorded more WTA victories on Chinese courts.
Before her next challenge, Gauff plans a brief break. “I want to go shopping,” she laughed. “So, I think we’re going to go to some of the malls here today.”
Fernandez Ends Losing Streak Against Sakkari
Leylah Fernandez, meanwhile, produced one of her most convincing performances of the season. The Canadian overpowered Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-0 in just 74 minutes, finally beating her opponent after three previous defeats. Fernandez was ruthless throughout, converting all five break points and winning a commanding percentage of points on both her first and second serves.
Her attention now shifts to a showdown with Gauff — a player she’s yet to defeat or even take a set from. The American leads their head-to-head 2-0, with straight-set wins earlier this year at the United Cup and the Australian Open.
Their third-round encounter promises to be a must-watch battle, as Fernandez aims for a breakthrough and Gauff looks to continue her title defense in style.
Stay tuned for all the latest Sports News, follow SportsNewsTime on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram