Gauff remains unbeaten to secure spot in Auckland semifinals
World No.3 Coco Gauff continues her impressive run at the ASB Classic, defeating Varvara Gracheva in the quarterfinals and maintaining her undefeated streak in Auckland.
Coco Gauff advances to the semifinals
In just 53 minutes, Coco Gauff, the reigning US Open champion, secured her place in the semifinals of the ASB Classic. Gauff defeated Varvara Gracheva with a dominant performance of 6-1, 6-1, extending her win streak in Auckland to eight matches. Throughout her run, Gauff has not dropped a single set.
Now, Gauff aims to reach her first final of the new season as she faces fellow American and No.4 seed, Emma Navarro, in the semifinals on Saturday. Navarro, ranked No.31, reached her first semifinals since 2023 San Diego by defeating Petra Martic 6-4, 6-3.
Impressive performance by Gauff
Varvara Gracheva, ranked No.41, was playing her first hard-court quarterfinals since March of last year. Gauff broke Gracheva in her first service game, quickly taking a 3-0 lead. She continued to dominate throughout the opening set, finishing it in just 33 minutes. Gauff showcased her skills in both the baseline and forecourt, providing an all-court masterclass.
Gauff expressed her satisfaction with her serving during the match, stating that it was the best she's served so far in the tournament. She emphasized the hard work she put into improving her serve during the off-season.
Efficiency and impressive stats
In the second set, Gauff broke Gracheva twice early on, further solidifying her lead. With a 4-0 advantage, Gauff closed out the match a few games later as Gracheva struggled to find her mark with her forehand. Gauff's efficiency and consistency were evident in the statistics, serving at a 72 percent rate, hitting five aces, and recording 13 winners to 11 unforced errors. She did not face a break point throughout the match and successfully converted five of her seven break points.
This victory marks Gauff's third win of the year, indicating a strong start to her season.
