\n<\/p>\n
Badosa, who was as low as 140th in the rankings in May, was on a good run of form in Beijing which included victory over second seed and US Open finalist Jessica Pegula in the last 16.<\/p>\n
And she took advantage of Gauff’s inconsistencies, particularly on her serve which produced 11 double faults, to win the opening set and break in the first game of the second.<\/p>\n
Gauff is working with new coach Matt Daly after ending her partnership with Brad Gilbert last month following her fourth-round exit at the US Open, where she was defending her title.<\/p>\n
She saved four break points to avoid going 4-1 down in the second set and from then the momentum was with the American, who regained her composure as Badosa dropped her first set of the week.<\/p>\n
Gauff broke three times in the decider to seal the win to reach her first final since she triumphed in Auckland in January.<\/p>\n
“I tried to stay focused, it was tough but mentally I just tried to reset,” she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n