Coco Gauff beat Madison Keys 6-2 7-5 at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships to reach her second semifinal at WTA 1000 level in her career.
Gauff broke twice in the first and fifth games to win the first set 6-2 including multiple shots wide and a netted overhead. Keys made 22 unforced errors to zero winners.
Gauff earned an early break in the third game of the second set to take a 2-1 lead. Keys broke straight back to draw level to 2-2. Both players went on serve until the 11th game when Gauff earned the decisive break at love to close out the second set 7-5 after Keys made Keys made a double fault, a drive volley error and a forehand error.
Gauff was playing in her 10th quarter final across WTA 1000 or Grand Slam tournaments. She reached two finals in Rome 2021 and at Roland Garros 2022.
“Staying present in the moment an djust accepting the good shots she hit was key. I knew it was going to be a tough match, and I am glad I was able to stay stable when I needed to”, said Gauff.
The US player has improved her seasonal record to 12-2. She won the Auckland title in her first tournament in 2023 last January.
Gauff has won her last seven matches against he fellow US players, and 12 of her last 13. She was beaten against Amanda Anisimova at Wimbledon in 2021. She has an overall record of 19-6 agaist US players at WTA main draw level.
Gauff leads 2-1 in her head-to-head matches against Keys. Las September Gauff beat Keys 6-2 6-3 in the third round of the US Open last September.
Gauff set up a semifinal against world number 1 and three-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.
“In all five head-to-head matches against Swiatek, I did something wrong. Iga is playing great and there is a reason she is world number 1. Tomorrow I have no pressure. I just have to play my game. I definitely think I have gotten better since the last time I played against her. Ranking is just a number anumber at the end of the day. You just have to step on the court believing you can win, and that’s what I am going to do tomorrow”, said Gauff.
