By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, January 5, 2023
Top-seeded Coco Gauff cracked eight aces and did not face break point sweeping Lin Zhu 6-3, 6-2 to charge into the Auckland semifinals.
Photo credit: Phil Walter/Getty
Juggling is one of Coco Gauff's special skills.
Last year, an 18-year-old Gauff masterfully managed earning her high school diploma, making her maiden major final appearance at Roland Garros and reaching rare air by cracking the Top 10 in both singles and doubles.
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Today, Gauff showed shrewd multitasking skills and declarative serve to charge into the Auckland semifinals.
The seventh-ranked Gauff swept Lin Zhu 6-3, 6-2 to charge into the ASB Classic final four in a match that was moved indoors due to rainy conditions.
Playing her first Tour-level event as a top seed Gauff has juggled the pressure of expectations, the quicker court conditions indoors and a challenging draw that saw her takedown 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin 6-4, 6-4 yesterday.
The Delray Beach baseliner has not dropped a set reaching the semifinals as she aims to become the first American woman since Serena Williams in 2020 to win Auckland. Gauff will face either seventh-seeded Danka Kovinic or world No. 134 Viktoria Kuzmova for a spot in the final.
The American's speed around the court and her skill cranking her two-handed backhand into the corners and attacking behind it posed problems for Zhu. Gauff broke at 30 for a 5-3 lead then served out the opening set at 15.
The top seed won a tremendous running rally banging her backhand crosscourt in a pulsating exchange that highlighted the third game of set two. Gauff drew a forehand error to break for 2-1.
Gauff can blast her first serve down the T and when Zhu leaned left to cover it, the American slid a slice ace out wide backing up the break for 3-1. Gauff earned an insurance break for 5-2 and closed with command.
A weary Gauff stumbled to a five-match losing streak to close the 2022 season and has not surrendered a set opening 2023 3-0.