Gauff Survives Fernandez Test to Advance in China Open

Coco Gauff battles past Leylah Ferandez in thrilling match

Coco Gauff defeats Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 in a thrilling match at the China Open, keeping her title defense alive, citing “I did what I needed to do to win today.”

Gauff's win sets up an intriguing matchup in the next round, where she'll face either Belinda Bencic...

Coco Gauff proved her mettle as the defending champion of the China Open, outlasting Leylah Fernandez in a thrilling match. The 21-year-old American battled through a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 win, showcasing her determination to retain her title. Gauff acknowledged her own grit, saying, “I did what I needed to do to win today.”

Coco Gauff described the match as “very physical” and acknowledged the intense back-and-forth nature of the game, saying, “We were going back and forth.” Despite being the world number three, Gauff faced a tough challenge from 25th-ranked Canadian Leylah Fernandez.

Gauff dominated the first set but Fernandez fought back in the second, forcing a deciding set. The Canadian player showed remarkable grit, surviving a match point to level the score at 5-5. However, Gauff's experience and skill ultimately paid off as Fernandez netted a crucial shot, ending the two-hour 45-minute marathon match.

Coco Gauff wins an OUTRAGEOUS point against Leylah Fernandez in Beijing.

Footspeed from another planet.

🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

pic.twitter.com/p5gmMdGJxv

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 28, 2025

Gauff's win sets up an intriguing matchup in the next round, where she'll face either Belinda Bencic, who has been in good form this year, or Priscilla Hon, who has shown impressive skills in recent months. Given Gauff's strong record in Beijing, where she holds an 11-1 lifetime record, she'll likely be favored to advance.

GAUFF GETS IT DONE! 💪@CocoGauff overcomes Fernandez in three sets to make the Round of 16 in Beijing 👊#2025ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/zVn0GjMnZ0

— wta (@WTA) September 28, 2025

Next Match Details:

• Opponent: Belinda Bencic (Switzerland) or Priscilla Hon (Australia)

• Round: Third round of the China Open
• Potential Quarterfinal Spot: Up for grabs

Gauff's victory keeps her title defense alive, and she'll face her next challenge with confidence. The young American's focus remains on winning back-to-back titles in Beijing.

Lorenzo Musetti issued a public apology on court after his match, saying, “Well first of all, I want to say... a public apology.” The 23-year-old Italian made the apology after beating France's Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals. Musetti's apology came after an incident earlier in the tournament where he had an outburst directed at coughing fans.

Musetti expressed regret for his actions, stating, “I totally understand your point and I... regret what I've said and what I've done, so sorry, thanks for understanding.” However, the on-court interviewer didn't translate his apology into Chinese for the fans, only sharing Musetti's brief comments about the match. Fans had booed when Musetti entered the court, and some made loud coughing noises, likely referencing his previous outburst where he shouted, “these [expletive] Chinese are always coughing” during his round-of-32 win against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

Musetti had previously apologized for the incident on social media, saying, “My words were directed only at a few individuals in the crowd who were coughing repeatedly and disturbing the play. They were never, in any way, meant for the Chinese people.” He added, “I realize that the way I expressed myself was wrong and inappropriate, and it hurt many Chinese fans' feelings.” The apology comes after a similar incident involving American tennis star Taylor Townsend, who faced backlash for making disparaging comments about Chinese food.

Eva Lys pulled off a stunning upset at the China Open, defeating world number 10 and former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina with a score of 6-3, 1-6, 6-4. The 23-year-old German player expressed her satisfaction and relief after the match, saying, “I was trying to get a top 10 win the whole year. This is my first one. I'm very happy I finally got it done.” This victory marks a significant milestone in Lys' career, showcasing her ability to compete against top-ranked players.