Top-Seed Coco Gauff To Face Qualifier In Auckland Final

Top seed Coco Gauff said she couldn't have made a better start to 2023 after dispatching another opponent with ease on Saturday to cruise into the final at Auckland

Top seed Coco Gauff said she couldn't have made a better start to 2023 after dispatching another opponent with ease on Saturday to cruise into the final at Auckland. American teenager and world number seven Gauff provided further evidence she will be a force at this month's Australian Open with a 6-0, 6-2 demolition of Montenegran seventh seed Danka Kovinic. The hard-hitting Gauff is yet to drop a set at the WTA 250 tournament in New Zealand and will start firm favourite in Sunday's final against Spaniard Rebeka Masarova.

Masarova, ranked 130th, beat Belgian Ysaline Bonaventure 6-3, 6-3 in a semi-final featuring two qualifiers - their advancement deep in the tournament encapsulating a week in which the seeds have struggled.

The exception is Gauff, who hasn't dropped a set in her four matches and has conceded a total of just 20 games.

It will be a fourth career final for the 18-year-old and her first since losing the French Open decider to world number one Iga Swiatek seven months ago.

"I didn't expect this outcome coming into the tournament," Gauff said.