<p>Coco Gauff just took down Eva Lys 6-3, 6-4 in the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/tennis/wta-beijing">China Open quarter-finals</a> on Thursday, and her title defence in Beijing is looking very real right now.</p> <p>The world number three had to work for it against the rising German star (their first-ever meeting, by the way), but she got the job done in straight sets to book her spot in the semi-finals.</p> <p>This is Gauff's third time reaching this stage of the WTA 1000 tournament, and honestly? She looks like she's got unfinished business here.</p> <h2>What's Next</h2> <p>Gauff's got an absolute banger of a semi-final waiting for her. She'll face either Jasmine Paolini or Amanda Anisimova (both two-time Grand Slam finalists), and that's the kind of match-up that gets tennis fans out of bed early.</p> <p>"She's a tough opponent, she hit some incredible shots on the run," Gauff said post-match about Lys. "I was trying my best to stay aggressive. Just staying confident in my game and not being too passive when I have the lead."</p> <p>That quote tells you everything. Gauff knew this wasn't going to be a walk in the park.</p> <h2>How It Went Down</h2> <p>The match lasted just under 90 minutes, but don't let that fool you into thinking it was easy. Lys had just knocked out top 10 player Elena Rybakina in the previous round, so she came in with serious momentum.</p> <p>Gauff came out absolutely firing in the first set. Her first serve percentage was double what Lys managed, and she was just as aggressive on the return (winning 9 of 13 first return points). The American sealed a triple break, though she did give two breaks back herself. Still, the first set was hers in 37 minutes.</p> <p>In the second set, world number 66 Lys started finding her rhythm and defending better, but Gauff was locked in at 74 per cent on serve throughout. The crucial moment came in the fifth game when Gauff broke for 3-2, converting her fourth break point of the match.</p> <p>Lys wasn't done yet. A Gauff double fault let the German break back, and just when it looked like we might have a proper scrap on our hands, Gauff broke again to close it out.</p> <p>The reigning Roland-Garros champion did what champions do: she found a way when it mattered most. Semi-finals, here we come.</p>