Coco Gauff fended off a feisty challenge from Leylah Fernandez as she continued her title defense Sunday at the China Open in Beijing.

Gauff defeated Fernandez, of Canada, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 in a two-hour, 45-minute match, Gauff was forced to battle not only Fernandez but her old nemesis: her serve.

The No. 2 seed, Gauff hit four aces but added nine double faults. Fernandez was able to convert seven of her 10 opportunities into breaks, and Gauff won points on just 55 percent of her serves.

In her postmatch interview, Gauff acknowledged she didn't have a lot of breathing room.

"I did what I needed to do to win today," the 21-year-old American said.

Fernandez, for her part, was broken eight times and converted only 49 percent of her serves into points.

Serving was the big issue in the third

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