Coco Gauff and Leylah Fernandez put on a Sunday thriller for the crowd at the China Open.

The pair went the distance in a tight three-setter that saw Gauff emerge victorious, as she took the match 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 and booked her place in the third round.

The game took 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete as Fernandez took advantage of Gauff's nine double faults to force a third set.

Coco Gauff survives scare in Beijing

Gauff had cut close in the third set too, after she threw away a three-game lead to allow Fernandez to level the set 5-5.

Nevertheless, the American, who has never lost to Fernandez, closed out the match by winning the next two games and keeping her title defence hopes in Beijing alive.

If Gauff is to win her second consecutive China Open title, she will have to avoid let

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