Tennis: USA’s Coco Gauff Clinches China Open Title

Coco Gauff, ranked sixth worldwide, decisively beat unseeded Czech player Karolina Muchova in the China Open final on Sunday, cruising to a 6-1, 6-3 victory. This win marked a historic moment as Gauff became the first player to win all of her first seven WTA hardcourt finals since the Open Era began.

In a display of strong tennis, Gauff hit 24 winners, securing her second WTA 1000 title of her career, following a previous win in Cincinnati earlier in 2023—also against Muchova. This Beijing victory adds to her earlier success at the Auckland Classic this year.

With this win, Gauff has improved her head-to-head record against Muchova to 3-0 and has claimed victory in eight out of her nine WTA final appearances.

Gauff took a moment to praise her opponent during the trophy presentation, acknowledging Muchova’s talent and resilience, especially after returning from a wrist injury sustained at the 2023 U.S. Open. She expressed her admiration for Muchova’s skills and wished her success in future finals.

The tournament also marked Gauff’s first event with her new coach, Matt Daly, following her recent split with Brad Gilbert. She thanked her team, highlighting the successful start of her collaboration with Daly.

Gauff demonstrated her resolve from the outset of the final, holding her service game to love and breaking Muchova early to establish a 2-0 lead. She maintained this early momentum, holding serve to love twice more and breaking again to move ahead 5-1. Although she faced a break point in her next service game, she saved it and won the first set with a powerful forehand winner.

In the second set, despite initially struggling with her serve and conceding a break, Gauff quickly regained control, breaking back immediately. Muchova, despite her earlier victories over top players in the tournament, could not maintain her form, and Gauff took a 4-2 lead. The two held their serves until Gauff broke Muchova again to seal the victory when Muchova’s backhand went long on match point.

In other tournament news, the Paris Olympics gold medalists Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini claimed the women’s doubles title, defeating Chan Hao-Ching and Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-4 to capture their third WTA Tour title of the year.