Coco Gauff lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the Wuhan Open semifinals, giving up 21 double faults along the way.
During the first set, the 20-year-old American player looked dominant, dropping only one game as she breezed through the first set and took a 4-2 lead in the second until her serve broke.
Sabalenka triumphed 1-6 6-4 6-4 after Gauff committed three double faults in the opening set, then nine more in the second and nine more in the third.
In a 2024 main draw match, she had the most double faults of any player with 21.
In the Sunday final, China’s Zheng Qinwen, ranked fifth, will take on top-seeded Sabalenka, the event’s two-time winner.
Gauff defeated Sabalenka.
But Gauff’s service game suddenly collapsed, allowing the Belarusian world number two to record successive breaks as she won four games in a row to take the second set.
Gauff’s service game deteriorated further in the decider and the American’s anger at failing to see out the match threatened to spill over.
Sabalenka, who has never lost in Wuhan, extended her winning run to seven games in a row by taking the first three games of the third set,
Gauff showed her resilience by winning four of the next five to level at 4-4.
But, after Sabalenka held her serve, Gauff double faulted on match point to hand the former world number one the win.
“Coco is an incredible player,” said Sabalenka.
“We’ve had a lot of tough battles in the past. She’s in great shape and I knew going into this match that it would be tough and that I would have to work really hard to get the win.
“A couple of mistakes from her and and I felt I probably still have chances.”
