The American reached the last eight of the Madrid Open for the first time with victory over Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva to set up a meeting with familiar adversary Iga Swiatek.
Gauff has not reached a final since she won the WTA Finals in 2024, but a return to form in Madrid has seen her reach the last four for first the first time this season.
It is a run that could yield more than just the title and asked to rate her performance out of 10, the American was in positive mood.
“Probably a nine,” she said in her on court interview.
“I played really well today and I was able to stay composed when facing set points, and I was really happy.
“I had a tough match in the first round and even though it was tough it prepped me and hopefully I can keep going all the way to the end.”
Thanks to Jessica Pegula’s defeat in the third round, Gauff could overtake her former doubles partner as the American No 1 if she reaches the final.
However Swiatek’s run to the last four means Gauff’s hopes of returning to World No 2 are on hold – for now – but should she lift the title at the weekend it would be her first singles title on clay since 2021.
Teenage star Andreeva has enjoyed a record-breaking year and the early signs were of a hard-fought contest but Gauff eventually ran away with the second set for a 7-5 6-1 victory.