Coco Gauff powered previous Marty Kostyuk to succeed in her second semifinal in Cincinnati.
Chris OddoAugust 21, 20262 minute learn
Coco Gauff despatched a powerful message of intent on Friday evening in Cincinnati, serving huge, taking part in daring and stepping on the accelerator to zoom previous Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-2 to succeed in the semifinals within the Queen Metropolis for the second time.
The final time she made it this far in Ohio? 2023, and he or she went on to win the title in Cincinnati, and the US Open a number of weeks later.
Gauff and her vastly improved serve had been entrance and heart on the fast-playing onerous courts in Cincinnati in opposition to among the finest returners within the ladies’s sport this 12 months.
The primary serve averaged over 110, and he or she received 78 % of her first-serve factors. The second serve was additionally shifting, averaging about 95 mph.
All of it led to a convincing victory for the 22-year-old American, her fourth in six makes an attempt over the Ukrainian.
Kostyuk had received two of three matches in opposition to Gauff, however it was clear early on that Friday evening was going to be completely different. Gauff led 3-0 and 5-1 within the opening set, earlier than closing it out. She additionally raced forward to a 4-0 lead within the second set earlier than Kostyuk mounted a mini rally that was not sufficient.
“She’s somebody I’ve a whole lot of respect for,” Gauff mentioned on courtroom of Kostyuk. “She’s one of the gifted and athletic gamers on tour. I simply performed rather well, and I’ve a whole lot of respect for her, as a result of I do know it wasn’t her finest evening.”
Gauff broke Kostyuk in six of her eight return video games, and received 79 % of her second-serve return factors.
“Simply staying aggressive right this moment, [against] somebody who can take management of the purpose very simply, and I used to be simply making an attempt to do my finest to defend the balls I wanted to, after which be aggressive after I might,” she mentioned.
Gauff will face Sara Bejlek of Czechia within the semifinals on Saturday. Bejlek, 20, backed up her upset of world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka with a victory over Madison Keys on Friday.
“The following match is gonna be robust in opposition to Sara,” Gauff mentioned. ”She has had some unbelievable wins, however I’m wanting ahead to the problem.”
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