Coco Gauff

Top seed Gauff was in a class of her own as she came out firing to dominate in the straight sets 6-0, 6-2 victory.

Fans applauded warmly for the American world number 7 as tennis returned to the outdoor courts at Stanley Street after days of rain forced games indoors.

Gauff, 18, controlled the match through strong serving, powerful groundstrokes and impressive movement around the court.

Kovinich called the trainer onto court in the second set to have her knee strapped. After a stellar tournament to progress to the later stages, she was barely in the contest today.

Again playing indoors as the Auckland rain continues, world No 7 Coco Gauff wrapped up a 6-3 6-2 quarterfinal win over China's Lin Zhu on Friday.

RNZ reports Gauff, making her debut at the New Zealand event, was yet to drop a set in her three matches.

The young American would face a semifinal against the winner of the second quarterfinal between seventh seed Danka Kovinich of Montenegro and Slovakia's Viktoria Kuzmova.

The biggest threat to Gauff's title aspirations now appeared to be third seed Leylah Fernandez.

The youngest player in the women's main draw at just 15, Gauff advanced to the second round with a 7-6(5), 6-3 victory at Melbourne Park on the opening day of the first major of the year.

The 2020 tournament is Gauff's first time in the main draw in Melbourne.

Gauff also upset Venus Williams in the opening round at Wimbledon last year.

Earlier in the day, Venus' sister Serena Williams completed a more comfortable 6-0, 6-3 win over Anastasia Potapova.