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- Aug 26, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Coco Gauff (USA) after beating Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) (not pictured) on day three of the 2025 U.S. Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Coco Gauff Continues China Open Dominance: American Star Crushes Dreams and Advances to Beijing Semifinals

Originally posted on Total Apex Sports | By Fahad Hamid | Last updated Oct 2, 2025 5:54 AM ET

You know what? Sometimes defending a title looks effortless—at least when you’re Coco Gauff and you’ve got your game dialed in at the China Open. The American tennis star just served up another masterclass performance, dismantling German qualifier Eva Lys 6-3, 6-4 in what can only be described as a “thanks for playing” kind of match.

Gauff’s Clinical Display Ends Lys’s Cinderella Run

Let’s be honest here—Eva Lys had been having the tournament of her life. The 23-year-old German had stunned everyone by taking down Elena Rybakina (yes, that Elena Rybakina) for her first-ever top-10 victory. She was living the dream, making her debut in a WTA 1000 quarterfinal, probably pinching herself every morning. But reality has a funny way of showing up uninvited, and it came wearing a Team USA jersey.

Gauff, currently sitting pretty at world number three, didn’t just win—she dominated with the kind of authority that makes you wonder if she was even trying hard. The defending champion needed just 1 hour and 28 minutes to send Lys packing, which was actually her shortest match of the tournament. Ouch.

The German fought valiantly in the first set, but once Gauff found her rhythm (which didn’t take long), it became a masterclass in why experience matters. Lys managed to win just 37% of points on her first serve in the opener—a stat that’ll make any tennis coach weep into their clipboard.

Service Game Separates Champions from Dreamers

Here’s where things get interesting from a tactical standpoint. While both players struggled with breaks early on—seriously, it looked like a game of hot potato with service games flying around—Gauff’s serving stats tell the real story. The American fired down first serves at a ridiculous 79% clip throughout the match. Sure, she had four double faults and gave Lys some break opportunities, but when push came to shove, her serve was the difference maker.

Lys, bless her heart, threw her racquet in frustration during the second set after missing a break chance. Can’t say I blame her—imagine being that close to potentially taking a set off the defending champion, only to watch it slip away. Tennis can be cruel like that.

Gauff’s Path to Back-to-Back Beijing Glory

The scary part for the rest of the draw? Gauff is now on a 10-match winning streak at the China Open. Ten matches. That’s not just good—that’s “maybe we should start planning the trophy ceremony” good. And with big names like Iga Swiatek already eliminated (thanks, Emma Navarro) and Aryna Sabalenka nowhere to be found in this draw, the path to repeat glory looks smoother than a freshly resurfaced court.

Next up for Gauff is either fellow American Amanda Anisimova (the third seed) or Italy’s Jasmine Paolini (seeded sixth). Either matchup should provide fireworks, though you have to wonder if anyone can stop this Gauff freight train right now.

Lys Gets Career-Best Ranking Consolation Prize

Before we completely write off Lys’s tournament as a disappointment, let’s give credit where it’s due. The German qualifier is jumping 21 spots to a career-high world number 45 ranking. Not too shabby for someone who was supposed to be cannon fodder in the early rounds.

It’s a reminder that tennis can be beautifully unpredictable—one week you’re grinding it out in qualifiers, the next you’re trading shots with Grand Slam champions on center court in Beijing. Lys proved she belongs at this level, even if Gauff reminded everyone exactly why she’s holding that defending champion title.

What’s Next for Beijing’s Favorite Daughter?

Gauff’s post-match comments were typically humble: “I’m happy with how I played today. She’s a tough opponent. She hit some incredible shots off the run, so I was just trying my best to stay aggressive.” Classic champion speak—respectful but confident.

The real question now is whether anyone left in this draw can challenge Gauff’s supremacy in Beijing. Her serve is clicking, her movement looks sharp, and most importantly, she’s playing with the confidence of someone who knows this court belongs to her.

With Swiatek out and Sabalenka absent, this China Open is shaping up to be Gauff’s tournament to lose. And based on what we’ve seen so far, she’s in no mood to hand over that crown without a fight.

The semifinals await, and if Gauff keeps playing like this, we might be looking at a repeat champion who makes defending titles look as easy as ordering takeout. Sometimes, being the defending champion really does have its perks.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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