Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion, established control early in the match by breaking Lys three times in the opening set, converting three of the four break points she created. Her aggressive play kept the pressure on the German, who responded with some impressive winners but could not shift the momentum.
Speaking after the match, Gauff said she was pleased with her performance and praised her opponent's shot-making ability. She explained that her focus was on staying aggressive and confident, especially when holding the lead. Gauff admitted she played one passive point late in the match but quickly adjusted and finished strongly.
The 21-year-old has faced challenges with her serve during parts of this season, but against Lys she was particularly effective, landing 79 percent of her first serves. That reliability gave her the platform to dictate rallies and limit opportunities for her opponent.
Gauff's season has been marked by highs and lows, including a first-round exit at Wimbledon shortly after her French Open triumph earlier in the year. With her latest win, she is now the highest-ranked player left in the tournament, positioning herself as the clear favorite to retain her title.
In the semifinal she will face fellow American Amanda Anisimova, the tournament's second seed. Anisimova advanced after staging a comeback victory over Italy's Jasmine Paolini, winning 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-4 in a contest that lasted nearly three hours. The win marked Anisimova's sixth semifinal appearance of the season, underlining her strong run of form in 2025.
