Gauff digs deep to keep China Open title defence alive | Sports

BEIJING, Sept 28, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Defending champion Coco Gauff withstood a gruelling examination by Leylah Fernandez on Sunday, battling through 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to keep her hopes of winning back-to-back China Opens alive. "I did what I needed to do to win today," the 21-year-old American said. "It was very physical," Gauff said. "We were going back and forth." Gauff looked in control in the first set but the gritty Fernandez hit back in the second to force a decider. The 25th-ranked Canadian survived a match point to level at 5-5 but Gauff finally clinched the 2hr 45min marathon when Fernandez netted. The world number three next plays either Switzerland's Belinda Bencic or qualifier Priscilla Hon of Australia for...