Gauff Wins Her Second WTA 1000 Title With Crushing Win Over Muchova In Beijing

Coco Gauff Wins 2024 China Open with Dominant Victory Over Karolina Muchova

Coco Gauff has once again claimed a WTA 1000 title after defeating Karolina Muchova in the final of the 2024 China Open. The 20-year-old American star, known for her immense talent and resilience, showcased her brilliance in Beijing, capping off a challenging season with a commanding win.

While Gauff has had a rollercoaster of a year, she often reflects on her first-round exit at Wimbledon in 2023 as the lowest point of her career. However, 2024 brought its own share of ups and downs. Although she kicked off the season with a title at the ASB Classic in Auckland, her momentum faltered when she failed to defend her titles at the Cincinnati Open, the Citi Open, and the US Open. In fact, her US Open campaign ended in the fourth round, losing to fellow American Emma Navarro. The struggles leading up to the US Open signaled to Gauff that something needed to change.

In response, Gauff decided to part ways with her coach Brad Gilbert and brought in a new coach, Matt Daly. The China Open marked their first tournament together, and their partnership got off to a fantastic start. Gauff cruised through her early rounds, defeating Clara Burel and Katie Boulter with relative ease. Naomi Osaka’s retirement from the tournament helped her advance further, but Gauff had to fight hard, coming from a set down in tough matches against Yuliia Starodubtseva and Paula Badosa.

These victories set up a final clash with the in-form Karolina Muchova, who had also impressed during the tournament, taking down top-seed Aryna Sabalenka and local favorite Qinwen Zheng. However, Gauff was ready to bring her best game to the final.

From the outset, Gauff played spectacular tennis. Her serve was nearly untouchable, winning the first 12 points on serve and hitting four aces in the first set alone. She won an astonishing 94% of rallies when her first serve landed in. On top of that, her returns put Muchova under constant pressure, with Gauff breaking her opponent’s serve twice in the first set. The young American wrapped up the set in just 30 minutes with a commanding 6-1 scoreline.

Before the final, Gauff humorously credited her good fortune to a visit to the Forbidden City with fellow tennis star Carlos Alcaraz. Both players made the finals of their respective tournaments in Beijing, with Alcaraz going on to win his title. “We both made the final. We both went to the Forbidden City together. Somebody asked me at the beginning of the week if that would give us luck. So far, it’s working,” Gauff said ahead of the match.

In the second set, Muchova began to mount a comeback, breaking Gauff early to take a 2-0 lead. But Gauff, undeterred, responded by winning 11 consecutive points to seize control of the set. She broke back to go up 3-2 and maintained her lead, despite facing break points in the seventh game. Gauff held firm and broke Muchova again in the ninth game, clinching the set 6-3 and sealing a straight-sets victory.

With this win, Gauff claimed her second WTA 1000 title, following her triumph in Cincinnati last year, where she also defeated Muchova in the final. This victory in Beijing, her first tournament with her new coach, could mark the start of a strong finish to her season. Gauff’s resilience and determination continue to make her one of the brightest stars in tennis.