Coco Gauff reveals why she felt ‘super relaxed’ in China Open triumph
Coco Gauff has claimed her second WTA 1000 title, after beating Karolina Muchova to win the China Open for the first time in her career.
Gauff beat the in-form Czech player, 6-1 6-3, to win her first title since Auckland back in January.
In her three previous matches Gauff had come from a set down, but raced past Muchova in just one hour and 17 minutes in the final.
This victory comes after a difficult North American hard court swing for Gauff, that caused her to drop outside the top five in the WTA rankings.
And Gauff revealed how her perspective has changed, “I was super relaxed going in. I was just like, I don’t know, ‘this match is not going to change my life’. When you go into matches like that, it’s super relaxed.”
She continued, “I think also the experience of winning a 1000-level title in the past (also against Muchova in Cincinnati 2023). That tournament, it was great confidence. Again, it didn’t change my life.
“I knew regardless of the result today, I was proud. Honestly, I was just telling myself the whole match I’m proud of myself, how I was able to overcome and still work on things that I’ve been practising on, too, and stick to it.”
Gauff has also had another major change recently, having parted ways with coach Brad Gilbert and is now working with Matt Daly.
Thank you @bgtennisnation ! We had an incredible run and I wish you all the best in the future! pic.twitter.com/5A2pzJjHUB
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) September 18, 2024
This was Gauff’s eighth career title, as she becomes the first woman to win eight of her first nine finals.
The 20-year-old’s only final defeat came back in 2022 against Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros, with it seeming as though Gauff is taking all these achievements in her stride.
“It feels great, it’s a personal achievement,” said Gauff. “I think I’m realising more and more each day that tennis is not a measure of my value as a person. I think the more you realise that, the more relaxed these tournaments become.
“I’m still going to experience pressure. It’s easier said than done. I’m sure at another tournament, I will be like, I felt so much pressure today. But it’s up and down.”
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
racking them up 👏@CocoGauff | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/UYLw9i2Lf6
— wta (@WTA) October 6, 2024
As a result of winning the title in Beijing, Gauff will now rise back up to World No.4, as she now heads to Wuhan for the second consecutive WTA 1000 event next week.
Inside the baseline…
It has been an incredibly impressive tournament from Coco Gauff, who looked down and out in her matches against Naomi Osaka and Paula Badosa when she was a set and a break down. This is what made the final victory over Karolina Muchova, who had probably been the better player heading into the Beijing final, even more impressive as she took control from the first point. Whether that is to do with her new coach is yet to be seen, but Gauff’s mindset is also a huge strength and it very easy to forget that she is still only 20-years-old!
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