Coco Gauff showcased her prowess at the Auckland Classic by defeating Varvara Gracheva 6-1, 6-1 in a swift victory on Friday. The U.S. Open champion’s stellar performance continued as she progressed to the semi-finals, maintaining an impeccable record without dropping a set in her title defense. Despite a brief rain delay, the 19-year-old phenom required only 53 minutes to dispatch her French opponent, not facing a single break point during the match.
Gauff, currently ranked third in the world, raced through the opening set and secured a 4-0 lead in the second before Gracheva managed to hold serve. The efficient victory sets up an all-American semi-final clash against Emma Navarro.
Reflecting on her performance, Gauff expressed satisfaction with her game, emphasizing improvements in her serving skills. She credited her success to offseason work and highlighted her happiness with the overall performance.
“I was focusing on playing my game,” said Gauff. “I thought I served really well, probably the best so far in the tournament, which is something I’ve been working on off-season. I’m really happy with how I played. I’m glad I was able to finish my match (before it could rain).”
In another warm-up tournament for the Australian Open, Victoria Azarenka secured a spot in the last four at the Brisbane International by defeating Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. Azarenka praised Ostapenko’s skills, acknowledging her as an incredible player and a Grand Slam champion.
Meanwhile, in the men’s section, Rafa Nadal, making his comeback after a prolonged injury hiatus, is set to face Australian Jordan Thompson later in the day for a chance to advance to the semi-finals.
