Coco Gauff will fight for a place in the quarterfinals of the China Open against Belinda Bencic after overcoming Leylah Fernandez in the third round.
Despite a comeback attempt from the Canadian, Gauff ultimately secured the win, beating Fernandez 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to continue her title defence.
The American emerged victorious in Beijing last year, claiming her second WTA 1000 crown by dominating Karolina Muchova in the final.
En route to two in a row, Gauff has just achieved something no woman has managed on tour in 14 years.
Coco Gauff makes history after beating Leylah Fernandez in Beijing
With her victory against Fernandez, the two-time Grand Slam champion has now secured her 150th WTA-level hard-court win.
At 21 years of age, she is the youngest to do so since Caroline Wozniacki, who reached the milestone during the 2011 season.
Gauff has enjoyed the majority of her success on hard court, including her first Grand Slam title at the US Open.
She has had her best performances on clay this year, however, reaching finals in Rome and Madrid, and clinching the Roland Garros crown.
Coco Gauff’s post-Wimbledon hard-court results
Gauff did not have the North American hard-court swing she would have hoped for after Wimbledon, having reached just one quarterfinal.
The US star lost to eventual finalist Victoria Mboko at the Canadian Open, and advanced to the last eight in Cincinnati.
Her US Open campaign ended in the fourth round, where Gauff suffered defeat to a red-hot Naomi Osaka.
Starting the Asian swing with two victories, she will hope to reach her first semifinal since Roland Garros at the China Open.
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