China Open: Coco Gauff sets up Beijing final against Muchova

Coco Gauff fought back from a set down to battle into the China Open final on Saturday, setting up a showdown with party-pooper Karolina Muchova.

The American former US Open champion beat Spain’s Paula Badosa 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to close on an eighth title.

The 20-year-old faces Muchova after the 49th-ranked Czech silenced a capacity Beijing crowd to beat Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in straight sets.

Sixth-ranked Gauff has struggled for form in recent months and split with coach Brad Gilbert after her US Open defence ended in the last 16 in a blur of double-faults.

Gauff struggled again with her serve against Badosa, racking up 11 double-faults.

But she belatedly found a semblance of top form to down the former world number two in two hours, 20 minutes.

With a new coaching set-up in place, Gauff said that she had not really expected to be in the final.

“Has this week been my best tennis? In moments, yes,” said Gauff, the youngest player to reach the China Open decider since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010.

“I think today I reached some levels where I was playing my best tennis. Obviously, that’s not the case for the whole match.”

The 19th-ranked Badosa broke in the fifth game of the first set as Gauff’s problems with her serve resurfaced.

The eighth game was mammoth, with Gauff finally converting her eighth break point, and she celebrated by putting both arms in the air.

The jubilation was short-lived, as Badosa broke back immediately and sealed the set on her third set point when Gauff overhit a simple forehand return.

Badosa broke once more to start the second set and Gauff was in danger of losing her cool, whacking the sole of her foot with her racquet as she fell 2-0 down.

Gauff recovered her poise to twice break the Spaniard and take the