Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff continues to play to her No 1 seeding in Auckland, cruising into the ASB Classic final with a straight-sets win over Danka Kovinic.

Needing just 28 minutes to claim the first six games, Gauff capitalised on a high first-serve percentage and converted three of five first-set break points. But after seeing those off she settled into her rhythm and began to attack the Kovinic second serve with intent. ”It was really good on my behalf.

Top-seeded Coco Gauff streaked through eight straight games defeating Danka Kovinic 6-0, 6-2, to fly into her fourth career final in Auckland. Photo credit: ...

Gauff grabbed it forcing a netted backhand to wrap her fourth straight-sets win in 73 minutes. Playing with taping across her right knee, Kovinic struggled to gain traction in the set. Pressuring Kovinic with a pair of forward runs, Gauff slid a forehand winner down the line breaking for 2-0. Dashing left, Gauff dug out a deep shot and lifted back a lob. "I'm glad I was able to play in front of you guys finally three days later pretty much," Gauff told the crowd. I mean today I was just playing good, but she showed fight at the end and I wish her all the best in Australia."

No.1 seed Coco Gauff knocked out No.7 seed Danka Kovinic with the loss of just two games to reach her fourth career Hologic WTA Tour singles final at the ...

Today, I was playing good, but she showed fight in the end." Words from the winner: In her on-court interview, Gauff was pleased with her overall effort, though she needed four match points to secure victory. The top-seeded American won the first eight games in a 6-0, 6-2 semifinal victory over No.7 seed Danka Kovinic of Montenegro to move into her fourth career Hologic WTA Tour singles final, and first on hard courts since she won her first at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz in October of 2019.

Top-seeded Coco Gauff has beaten Zhu Lin of China 6-3, 6-2 to reach the semifinals of the ASB Tennis Classic at a tournament which has been dogged by bleak ...

She rolled her left ankle in the second set of her match against Slovakian qualifier Viktoria Kuzmova and couldn’t continue. “It’s not the ideal conditions to play in, no fans and I’m sad they can’t see the matches,” she said. Gauff adapted better than most to the indoor courts which players say are faster and slicker than those outdoors. Gauff deserved an audience for her impressive win over Zhu which she achieved in only 76 minutes and earned her a ninth semifinal of her career. But I was glad I was able to stay focused.” “Each match I’m improving and that’s what I love to see.

Hopes of a dream final between Coco Gauff and Leylah Fernandez have come to an end, with the Canadian losing her quarterfinal match.

I’m approaching these tournaments differently, staying relaxed as possible, because I feel like I’m playing a lot of weeks of the year and you can’t be uptight all of those weeks, it’s not good for the health, so I’m trying to make it more relaxed.” “It’s not the ideal conditions to play in, no fans and I’m sad they can’t see the matches. So more grim news for those who wanted to see the stars go deep. “But at the end of the day it’s tennis and I’m glad to be on the court.” “In the training week it was nice, I did a lot of fun stuff, usually I don’t do as many fun things before a tournament, but we went to Waiheke Island, I jumped off a building, my brothers went jet skiing, I didn’t do that, but we did a lot of fun stuff. “They’ve left, but I didn’t want them here through the tournament and I don’t think they wanted to be here during the tournament.

Gauff, ranked No 7, will face the winner of the match between Belgian qualifier Ysaline Bonaventure and Spanish qualifier Rebeka Masarova next. Ahead of her ...

Top-seeded Coco Gauff has reached the final of the ASB Classic at Auckland by overcoming Danka Kovinic of Montenegro 6-0, 6-2.

The 18-year-old knew she didn't have long to finish off Danka Kovinic, with dark clouds rapidly approaching Centre Court.

Halfway through Saturday's first semifinal of the ASB Classic, top seed Coco Gauff found herself watching couples in the crowd on the big screen, ...

It’s really good any final and especially the first week of the year, I didn’t expect this outcome but I can’t ask for a better start to the season, regardless of the result.” “So it’s almost taking myself out of the zone because I’ve never had a problem being in the zone and being focused. “I’m trying to work more on enjoying the moment,” said Gauff. So I’m trying to crack more smiles on the court - when acceptable obviously.” “For me, it’s like almost being out of the zone,” said Gauff. It’s almost being too much into that - getting too much into my head.”

The American hasn't yet dropped a set at the Auckland hardcourt tournament and needed a little more than an hour to defeat seventh-seeded Kovinic to reach ...

But it definitely plays in the back of your head when you know you're close to the end and there's a time constraint." It was really good on my behalf." "Any final is special, especially the first week of the year. When play resumed, Masarova beat Bonaventure 6-3 6-3 to reach her first WTA Tour final. "I guess (I'm in the groove)," Gauff said. "It means a lot, the last final was the French Open," Gauff said.

It will be a fourth career final for the 18-year-old and her first since losing the French Open decider to world No 1 Iga Swiatek seven months ago.

We request you to support our award-winning journalism by making a financial contribution towards the Scroll Ground Reporting Fund. “I’ve just taken it a game at a time. I felt great in qualifying and now it feels amazing. “I was trying to stay focussed on the match and not on the rain coming but it definitely plays in the back of your head when you know you’re close to the end and there’s a time constraint.” “I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season, regardless of the result tomorrow.” The hard-hitting Gauff is yet to drop a set at the WTA 250 tournament in New Zealand and will start firm favourite in Sunday’s final against Spaniard Rebeka Masarova.