Gauff charges into Cincinnati semis with renewed confidence and assertive net play

Since dropping the opening set in her Cincinnati opener, Coco Gauff has been on the charge. Literally.

The No. 4 seed has won six straight sets after a 6-2, 6-2 victory over No. 10 seed Marta Kostyuk on Friday night sent her through to the semifinals. The run has largely come from a surge in confidence, but it's also the product of a tactical shift that has her coming forward more than she has in the past.

Cincinnati: Scores | Order of play | Draws

"I didn't realize how good I was at it until Wimbledon," Gauff told reporters. "Everyone has been telling me to come to the net more. Actually, Chris Evert has been texting me sometimes to come to the net more. And I tell her yeah, I'm going to, and then I just don't. I finally did at Wimbledon and I won so many points that way. 

"And obviously here, there's just a big difference when you're able to finish the point at the net."

That was evident in the 70 minutes it took Gauff to put away Kostyuk. She moved forward repeatedly, and that -- along with six breaks of serve and just five points lost behind her first serve -- powered her win.

Gauff is now 4-2 against Kostyuk on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz. She also becomes the fourth player in the Open Era to reach multiple Cincinnati Open semifinals before turning 23, joining Linda Tuero, Vera Zvonareva and Evonne Goolagong.

More to come...