World number two Iga Swiatek ended US Open champion Coco Gauff’s 16-match winning run with victory in the semi-finals of the China Open.
The 22-year-old Pole was barely troubled in a 6-2 6-3 victory with teenager Gauff requiring treatment on a shoulder injury in the second set.
Swiatek will face Russian Liudmila Samsonova in Sunday’s final in Beijing.
The world number 22 caused a surprise by beating beat fifth seed Elena Rybakina 7-6 (9-7) 6-3.
Swiatek dominated her match from the start. She did not allow 19-year-old Gauff a break point in the opening set and maintained the momentum in the second.
The win sends her into a third WTA 1000 final of the season and her seventh decider of the year.
American Gauff had beaten her for the first time in eight meetings in the semi-finals in Cincinnati earlier this summer during her winning streak – the longest of her career so far – but never looked like repeating the feat.
“I was feeling [the injury] in the first set,” Gauff admitted. “It’s definitely a new experience. I’m not used to playing with pain in general.
“When you’re experiencing pain… your whole mind starts thinking, ‘Is it serious? Should I keep playing or not?'”
Switek became the first player to beat Gauff since Jessica Pegula claimed a three-set win in the quarter-finals in Montreal in August.
“I’m really happy with my performance,” she said. “It feels like I can play freely again, so I’m really happy. It’s been a while since I felt that way.
“So I’ll remember for the rest of my career that even though tougher times may come, in your mind, you can always overcome that. And with hard work, you can achieve it.
“I’m happy that I switched my attitude after the US Open, and hopefully I’ll be able to keep it for as long as possible.”
BBC/Jamiu Ogunshe
