"I never stopped believing" - Coco Gauff's China Open SF opponent Paula Badosa pumped up after making 2nd straight WTA 1000 SF after injury comeback

Paula Badosa has secured a spot in the semifinals of the 2024 China Open, where she will face Coco Gauff. This marks the Spaniard’s second consecutive semifinal at a WTA 1000 event, following her exit at the same stage during the Cincinnati Open.

After reaching a career-high rank of World No. 2 in 2022, Badosa faced multiple injuries and a slump in form in 2023. She was out of action due to a career-threatening injury in the latter half of last year.

Since her return from a chronic back injury earlier this year, Badosa has been steadily improving her performance with a remarkable hardcourt season. She clinched the Citi Open title, advanced to the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open, reached the quarterfinals at the US Open, and is now preparing for the China Open semifinal.

In Beijing, the Spaniard is yet to lose a set. She defeated Viktoriya Tomova 6-3, 6-2, Rebecca Šramková 7-5, 7-5, second seed Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-0, and wildcard Zhang Shuai 6-1, 7-6(4). Up next for Paula Badosa in the WTA 1000 event is 20-year-old Coco Gauff.

To express how excited she is for the upcoming match, Badosa took to X to post an image of herself with her kitbag and a determined expression, captioning it:

"I never stopped believing… step by step making my way again. 🔜 Semis 💪"

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Coco Gauff and Paula Badosa set to face each other for the sixth time on the WTA Tour in China Open 2024 SF

Coco Gauff at the 2024 China Open (Image: Getty)

Coco Gauff and Paula Badosa have faced each other five times before on the WTA Tour. Badosa won 6-2, 6-2 the first time the pair faced off at Indian Wells in 2021. Gauff avenged her defeat with a 6-2, 6-3 win in Doha next year.

The Spaniard grabbed the lead in the head-to-head with a 7-6(4), 6-2 win when the pair faced off again in 2022 in San Jose. The American, however, won the next two battles — 6-3, 6-0 in Madrid in 2023 and 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 in Italy in 2024.

At the 2024 China Open, Gauff booked a second consecutive semifinal appearance by getting the better of Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the quarterfinals on Thursday, October 3. This is her seventh WTA 1000 semifinal and third of the year.

For Badosa, this will be her third semifinal of the year and her career's fifth WTA 1000 semifinal. Badosa and Gauff are scheduled to face off in Beijing on Saturday, October 5.