Another easy win for Coco Gauff to set up ASB Classic semifinal against fellow American Emma Navarro

This yr’s ASB Traditional is all getting a bit simple for Coco Gauff.

On Friday she defeated the No 8 seed from France, Varvara Gracheva 6-1 6-1 to substantiate her place within the semifinals in New Zealand for the second yr working and the one fear is that if this has been too simple for her.

“Each day I come out to play,” Gauff mentioned.

“Clearly, the scoreline says in any other case, so I’m not going to say sure. However on the identical time, it’s knowledgeable degree and in a manner it’s powerful sufficient for me.

“I simply performed good at the moment and within the final couple of matches I simply performed properly.

“I don’t wish to sit right here and be prefer it’s too simple. It’s not, it’s knowledgeable degree. Clearly, at the moment I had a very good day, so the scoreline went my manner.

“However who is aware of? Tomorrow might be a more durable match and I might lose. I believe the matches are the place I must be, I’m pleased with how I’m enjoying and that’s crucial half.”

Outcomes smart, it’s the identical for Gauff at this match because it was final yr, however she says been in a position to change her mentality in direction of matches.

“I believe I’m quite a bit smarter participant,” she mentioned.

“I do know what degree I can deliver and I understand how to play and handle it.

“Each match isn’t going to go my manner, however I believe I’m making smarter choices on the court docket, with feelings and every thing.

“I’m having enjoyable, I’m not placing a lot strain on myself. Clearly the state of affairs within the match, I’m the No 1 seed and ranked fairly a bit greater than a number of the ladies I’ve performed thus far.

“Typically you may go into that and put your self beneath strain, like it’s essential to win, otherwise you’re imagined to win.

“However I’ve all the time had that mentality, once I was ranked decrease, that even If I used to be enjoying somebody high 5 on the earth and I used to be like 60, I nonetheless felt like I can win.

“So I’ve switched that mentality. Though I’m ranked greater, I’m nonetheless in a position to say it’s OK if I lose.”

It’s in stark comparability to Elina Svitolina on the different finish of the draw, who’s performed blockbuster match after blockbuster and apart from going via a small unhealthy patch throughout her first spherical win over Claire Liu, Gauff has barely been examined.

She received her match in opposition to Gracheva in simply 53 minutes, which might have been a reduction to her and the match organisers because it began to rain as quickly because it completed.

In Saturday’s semifinal, Gauff will play in opposition to fellow American and No 4 seed Emma Navarro, who dispatched the seventh-seeded Petra Martic from Croatia 6-4 6-3.

Navarro performed 29 tournaments on the Tour in 2023. Nobody within the high 40 did greater than her and he or she feels enjoying a lot helped her enhance her rating and tennis.

“It was positively helpful,” she mentioned.

“I began the yr out enjoying a bunch of $25,000 (ITF tournaments) and this time final yr I used to be in Naples, Florida and I used to be enjoying ITFs for lots of the yr.

“I believe it’s a ceremony of passage to must undergo that degree and I believe getting in as many matches as I did was actually helpful for me.

“It helped me quite a bit with working via the more difficult moments in matches. Simply going through these moments extra typically.

“That was a whole lot of matches and I used to be positively drained on the finish of the yr, however it helped me quite a bit.”

Navarro is the daughter of businessman Ben Navarro, who has an estimated web price of US$3 billion (NZ$4.8 billion).

She says the household, who reside in Charleston, South Carolina, have been cheering her on from again residence.

“They’re excited. They’re my largest followers,” she mentioned.

“So once I get a textual content from them after I play, it’s actually particular to know they’re watching and so they’ll keep as much as all hours of the evening to look at me play.

“It’s actually cool to have these individuals in my nook that I do know will likely be there whether or not I win or lose.”

Navarro says she doesn’t concern going up in opposition to the World No 3 on Saturday and says she remembers matches in opposition to Gauff once they had been each children.

“We’ve performed a few instances up to now,” she mentioned.

“First time we performed I used to be possibly 15 and he or she was 12 or one thing and the following time was possibly a yr after that.

“I’m excited to play her, she’s clearly an incredible participant and wonderful athlete. I’m excited to check myself in opposition to a participant like that.”

And the outcomes from these matches once they had been youthful? It was one win every.