Gauff beats Paolini in straight sets to reach Wuhan final / Photo: © AFP
-
Nick Harkaway Expands John le Carré’s Spy Universe in 'The Taper Man'
-
Binance CFO Kaiser Ng Departs Amid Aftermath of $6.3 Billion Hack
-
Rene Eyre Revisits Autobiographical Performance 'Say A Little Prayer' in London
-
London Museum Granted 24/7 License Ahead of November Opening
-
UAE's HCT Holds Record Graduation and Announces Major Training Expansion
-
Dana White Confirms Flight to Washington for Trump Meeting on Press Secretary Role
-
NASA Awards $10B Lunar Contract Framework to SpaceX, Blue Origin
-
Dengue Fever Expands Into High Himalayas as Climate Change Warms Nepal
-
Katy Perry Tells Fans Ex-Husband Russell Brand 'Should Be in Jail' During UK Concert
-
IoT Refrigerator Hacks Disrupt Blood Labs and Supermarkets Across Europe and US
-
South African election results renew debate over identity-based voting
-
Post-election pressures complicate US and Israeli decisions on Iran
-
South African voters report smoother local election but declining IEC trust
-
UN members approve talks on treaty protocol against environmental crime
-
Dolly Parton museum and Nashville hotel open after singer’s death
-
Family-run West Sussex beach café prepares for first winter season
-
George and Amal Clooney attend New York political-comedy reading
-
CT scans reveal health and burial clues from Egypt’s Braided Lady mummy
-
British buyers pay substantial premiums for period-home appearance
-
Oxford faces complaints over lecturer’s classroom attire
-
Thomas Markle released to house arrest after child-abuse-image charge
-
Kyren Wilson and John Higgins reach International Championship snooker final
Gauff beats Paolini in straight sets to reach Wuhan final
Coco Gauff survived a battle of wills against Jasmine Paolini on Saturday to reach the Wuhan Open final for the first time in her career.
The American third seed had lost all three meetings she had with Paolini in 2025 but turned things around with a 6-4, 6-3 victory to book a final showdown with defending champion Aryna Sabalenka or sixth seed Jessica Pegula.
"It was 3-0 this year but I think our head-to-head is even now," said Gauff of her record against Italy's Paolini.
"I’m really happy with how I played today, it was tough, especially playing on the serve, but I did what I needed to do to get through."
In a semi-final dominated by the return, Gauff edged Paolini by the slimmest of margins.
A run of 11 consecutive breaks of serve swung the momentum like a pendulum but it was Gauff who finally held serve in game seven of the second set en route to an 82-minute victory.
The 21-year-old is through to the fifth WTA 1000 final of her career, and third in 2025.
"I’ve played a couple of finals this year, so I have a lot of experience. But regardless of what happens tomorrow, I’m really happy with the effort I’ve put in this tournament.”
For Paolini a title run in Wuhan would have secured her place in next month’s WTA Finals in Riyadh.
Currently occupying the eighth spot in the Race to the WTA Finals, Paolini will have to seal her qualification at one of the remaining two tournaments of the season, in Ningbo or Tokyo over the next couple of weeks.
A.Gasser--BTB
