“This time, when the pressure is on the line, I was just trying to force myself to do things I was uncomfortable with,” confessed Coco Gauff last season after winning her maiden title in Beijing. In the final, the two-time Grand Slam champion bested Karolina Muchova in straight sets. “So yeah, I think the result is now reassurance that I am in the right direction.” One year on her words seem prescient, as she kept herself alive at the China Open yet again, despite a challenging battle. She also reached a big career milestone in the process.

Gauff has lacked consistency lately and was under pressure to deliver against Canada’s Leylah Fernandez . Their R32 match made it evident as well as Fernandez gave her a run for her money. After Gauff snatched the first set, the Canadian m

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