Coco Gauff powers past Katie Boulter in straight sets, Jessica Pegula sets up Paula Badosa clash at China Open

Katie Boulter had a day to forget against Coco Gauff, after the American booked her place in the China Open fourth round with little fuss. Boulter acquitted herself well in the opening set, but Gauff was rampant in the second to comfortably progress. Elsewhere, there were wins for Jessica Pegula and Paula Badosa, with the duo set to meet in the round of 16 on Tuesday.

'I have no regrets' - Gauff on the end of her US Open title defence after loss to Navarro

Video credit: SNTV

Coco Gauff dispatched Katie Boulter with a 7-5 6-2 victory in the third round of the China Open in Beijing.

Gauff will face either Naomi Osaka or fellow American Katie Volynets in the round of 16, as she targets what would be her first WTA tour title since victory in Auckland almost nine months ago.

Meanwhile, defeat for Boulter means she has not won consecutive completed matches since beating Jelena Ostapenko in Eastbourne more than three months ago.

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The key moment of the first set came in the 12th game when Boulter saved two set points but then double faulted and missed a forehand to hand Gauff the set.

"I felt like I gave up two points in that game, so I was just trying to put it in the past," said Gauff about the game. "Breaking for the set, I think is just one of those things where you don't have the pressure, I think serving for it you do, so I just tried to play each point.

"I thought I played well. I knew what I needed to do, so I tried my best to make the adjustments."

This was the third meeting between the two players with one victory each from their previous two encounters - Gauff emerged victorious in Montreal last year, while Boulter claimed a memorable win in Melbourne three years ago.

With the rain wreaking havoc on the schedule in the Chinese capital, this was the last match scheduled of the day to take place under the roofed Diamond Court.

The Brit would have been hoping to produce a sparkling performance befitting of the venue, but ultimately fell short against the American, who showcased her class to claim a comfortable victory.

Boulter matched Gauff in the opening exchanges and looked strong on her service game until the American secured her first break in the sixth game. The British No. 1 impressively secured a break back and reduced Gauff's lead to 4-5.

However, Boulter missed the chance to force an opening set tie-break. She swatted away two set points for the American, before eventually succumbing to a third as the world No. 6 drew first blood.

Gauff was well on her way to victory when she moved a set and a break ahead in the fourth game, taking a 3-1 lead and leaving Boulter staring down the barrel of defeat.

The 2023 US Open champion followed that up with an emphatic hold to love, extending her lead to 4-1.

Boulter responded with a hard-fought hold, but it only prolonged the seemingly inevitable Gauff victory.

The 20-year-old prevailed on her second match point, breaking Boulter for a fourth time in the process.

Wins for Pegula and Badosa

Elsewhere, world No. 3 Jessica Pegula recovered from a set down to overcome Veronika Kudermetova 6-7(9) 6-1 6-2.

The US Open finalist lost an epic first set tie-break 11-9, before taking the next two sets with comparative ease and sealing her place in the fourth round.

She will now face Paula Badosa after the Spaniard beat Rebecca Sramkova in straight sets, winning 7-5 7-5.

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