With new life in the encounter and looking confident with her striking, Gauff went on an 18 for 20-point run. Badosa cooled her off just in time to get back on serve, only to hand over the re-break with a botched forehand. She was unable to force the 20-year-old to serve it out, with her final forehand sailing long.
“It was just a tough match. I felt like I was playing the right way the whole time,” Gauff said on court. “I’m happy to be in the final, obviously.”
Gauff leveled her head-to-head with Badosa to 3-3 and has now won both of their clashes this season (Rome fourth round). The Delray Beach, Fla. resident is bidding to win her second WTA 1000 title, having triumphed at 2023 Cincinnati. Gauff awaits the winner of fifth seed Zheng Qinwen and Czech Karolina Muchova.
