BEIJING – French open winner Coco Gauff was forced to go to the distance from Leila Fernandez before closing out tight three-setters 6-4, 4-6 and 7-5 on Sunday.
Beijing’s defending champion and solid crowd favorites overcome the second set and struggled to play the match in the third, then broke Fernandez in the 12th game of the deciding set.
Gauff will then face No. 16 Belinda Benchic or Australian Priscilla Hon in the WTA 1000 Series tournament.
In previous match Sunday, Eva Reese beat No. 10 Elena Rivakina 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, with American McCartney Kessler leading Barbola Krezikova 1-6, 7-5, 3-0 when the Czech players retired from the match.
The tournament is being held at the same time as the ATP 500 men’s tournament.
The day after becoming the latest tennis star to apologise to Chinese fans, Lorenzo Musetti had an eventful straight set victory against tour veteran Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-3 in his second match.
Previously, learner Tien defeated Flavio Koboli 6-3, 6-2, setting up a meeting with 9th place Musetti in the quarterfinals.
Third ranked Alexander Zverev will play France’s Corentinmut in the evening match later on Sunday.
