With a place in the last 16 of the China Open at stake, Katie Boulter and Coco Gauff square off in Sunday's intriguing third-round battle. Both seeds marched to straight-sets wins in their Beijing openers, as Boulter triumphed over Gauff's compatriot Taylor Townsend , while the American sent France's Clara Burel packing. © Imago Playing her first WTA singles match since crashing out of the US Open in the second round, Boulter needed a little over 90 minutes to earn her first victory in nearly a month against the unfancied Townsend, whom she bested 6-4 6-4 in the second round.
While her American foe had to navigate a first-round three-setter with Martina Trevisan , Boulter earned a bye into the second round thanks to her status as the 26th seed and made her extra period of preparation count, even if she got off to the worst possible start. Indeed, the British number one was broken straight off the bat as Townsend raced into a 3-0 lead, but Boulter maintained her composure and had an exceptional serving display to thank for a stellar turnaround, not missing a single first serve throughout the one-hour and 33-minute contest. Boulter was guilty of being slightly wasteful on break points, squandering 75% of the opportunities that came her way (nine of 12), but the 28-year-old's powers of recovery were on full display as she eventually neutralised the Townsend forehand.
After being dumped out of the US Open by Jessica Bouzas Maneiro - a defeat that she labelled "horrendous" to her.