Coco Gauff came from behind to win in Beijing. Coco Gauff came from behind to win in Beijing.

Coco Gauff came from behind to defeat Yuliia Starodubtseva and reach the semi-finals of the China Open. (More Tennis News)

Gauff was no match for the qualifier in the first set of Thursday's tie, but the American rallied back to win 2-6 6-2 6-2.

The world number six will face Paula Badosa, the 15th seed, on Saturday.

She is vying for a place in her first final since she triumphed in Auckland in January, and her first at a WTA 1000 event since she won the Cincinnati Open in 2023.

Data Debrief: Comeback queen

Including retirements, Gauff (two) has achieved multiple match wins from a set down at a single WTA 1000 event for the first time in her career, and for the first time at a single WTA event overall since last year's US Open.

7 - Since the format’s inception in 2009, only Caroline Wozniacki (8) has reached more WTA-1000 SFs than Coco Gauff (7) before turning 21. Iga Swiatek (5) is the only other player to reach 5+ semi-finals over that span. Establish.#ChinaOpen | @ChinaOpen @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/pi9yg1ktQz

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) October 3, 2024

Since the format's inception in 2009, meanwhile, only Caroline Wozniacki (eight) has reached more WTA 1000 semi-finals than Coco Gauff (seven) before turning 21. World number one Iga Swiatek (five) is the only other player to reach 5+ semi-finals over that span.

China Open: Coco Gauff Storms Into Fourth Round With Record-Breaking Win

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Badosa stands between Gauff and the final. She beat home hope Zhang Shuai in the quarters, and became the second Spaniard to reach the semi-finals of the China Open since the inception of the tournament in 2004 after Garbine Muguruza in 2015.

She is the second oldest player to reach the semi-finals of the China Open in their maiden appearance after Amelie Mauresmo in 2006.hugeslot

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