Coco Gauff has linked her past experiences to success on the court after winning her latest trophy at the China Open on Sunday.
The world No.5 defeated Karolina Muchova 6-1, 6-3, in a one-sided encounter in Beijing. Gauff broke her opponent five times and won 85% of her first service points to become the second American woman to lift the title after Serena Williams. She is the second-youngest player to win her first two WTA Finals since the format was introduced in 2009. The youngest to do so is Bianca Andreescu.
“It was a tough tournament,” said Gauff.
“I think today was obviously by far my best match in a while. I’m really happy with how I managed to play.”
Before taking on US Open semi-finalist Muchova, Gauff also scored wins over Naomi Osaka, Yulia Starodubtsewa and Paula Badosa at the tournament. It is the first title she has won since Auckland in January.
The 20-year-old has won all of her first seven hard-court finals on the WTA Tour. A milestone that no other female player has achieved so far in the Open Era. Overall, she is 8-1 in tournament finals. So what is the key to Guaff’s success?
“I think it’s just being relaxed. My first final, which was when I was 15, is kind of like the worst because you’re like, I’m never going to get this opportunity again, which is completely not true. That is how I felt in my first Grand Slam final, as well.” She explains.
“I think the experience of winning in the past, I realize that, yes, winning is great. It feels great right now. But tomorrow I’m going to wake up and it’s a different day. 70% of the world doesn’t know anything about whether I won or lost. Probably even more…
“That’s how I kind of treat the mindset honestly. But it feels great. It’s a personal achievement.
“I’m realizing more and more each day that tennis is not a measure of my value as a person. I think the more you realizethat, 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.”
Gauff’s latest triumph will move her to fourth position in the PIF Race to the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia. Although she is almost guaranteed to qualify for the end-of-year event, which will feature the eight highest-ranking players.
The next tournament for Gauff will be in Wuhan where she is seeded fourth in the draw. Granted a bye in the first round, her opening match will be against either Ashlyn Krueger or Viktoriya Tomova.
