Coco Gauff’s opponent called out for ‘annoying’ actions in Wuhan as American praised for staying calm

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Coco Gauff will return to the semifinals of the Wuhan Open after earning a comfortable win over Laura Siegemund.

The American, who bowed out in the final four to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka last year, overcame Siegemund in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0.

Gauff has yet to drop a set in Wuhan so far, having already made quick work of Moyuka Uchijima and Zhang Shuai in her first two matches at the WTA 1000 event.

Despite the dominant scoreline against Siegemund, the match still lasted nearly an hour and a half, which former British tennis player Colin Fleming said was due to an ‘annoying’ tactic used by the German.

Coco Gauff praised for remaining calm in win at the Wuhan Open

Commentating on Sky Sports, Fleming said of Gauff’s opponent: “She does have her own pace of play, doesn’t she? Very close to an hour on the match clock here, and we have only played a 6-3 set.

“That includes the long break after the set, she takes her time between points, and already had a time violation.

“Even things like a number of times she has thrown the ball up for the serve and let the toss drop and then bounced the ball a few more times.

“It’s not breaking a rule doing that but I raise it because I want to give Gauff credit for how calm and focused she has stayed and is continuing to be in this set. It can be annoying to play against.”

Coco Gauff’s promising 2025 WTA Asian swing so far

Gauff is enjoying an impressive end to the season so far and is beginning to show signs of improvement under the wing of her new coach, Gavin MacMillan.

After bowing out in the fourth round of the US Open, the 21-year-old reached the semifinals of the China Open, beating former Grand Slam finalist Leylah Fernandez en route.

She fell to a red-hot Amanda Anisimova in the Beijing final four, but has since bounced back in Wuhan, tearing through her half of the draw to reach the latter stages of the competition.

Now, she will come up against either Iga Swiatek or Jasmine Paolini for a place in the final.