Gauff hadn’t had a good few months due to numerous heartbreaking defeats in her prior competitions. Gauff’s ranking dropped from No. 2 to No. 6 due to her early exit at the most recent US Open, and she later announced that she and her coach Brad Gilbert were splitting up. After adding Matt Daly to her squad, the American woman won her second WTA 1000 title in their first competition together.
When asked if she would be lucky to visit the Forbidden City with Carlos Alcaraz, Gauff assumed the worst. The two went on a tour of the Forbidden City, which served as China’s political hub for five centuries, and took pictures while dressed traditionally.
Earlier this week, Carlos and I both visited the Forbidden City. During [a news conference], someone asked me if I thought it would bring luck. I said to myself, “I’m not sure; I don’t want to ruin it.” Carlos then prevailed. For me, it was merely the Round of 16. But it seems like we were lucky to have the Imperial Palace.
Coco Gauff in the China Open of 2024.
Gauff defeated competitors like Paula Badosa, Karolina Muchova, Katie Boulter, and Naomi Osaka in the competition. The Czech golfer has made a strong comeback to the Tour, going 18-5 this year and making it to two finals. Following a 10-month injury, Muchova competed in just a few tournaments before securing her place in the top 30 starting on Monday. Her good showing in Beijing allowed her to do so.
“I would like to congratulate you, Karolina. Glad to have you back on the road. You play such a fantastic game. You are deserving of everything. During the award ceremony, Gauff stated, “Hopefully, we play many more finals.” “I don’t want to say that I hope some go your way, but perhaps they will if they work against someone else. Seeing how you handle your season after sustaining so many injuries is amazing. I hope your health holds up for the remainder of the year and your career.
Muchova extended the head-to-head to 3-0 and had some words to say to her opponent. Gauff prevailed in each of their meetings, including the Beijing Open, the US Open, and the Cincinnati Open in 2023. “You really kicked my butt today. Once more. Muchova remarked, “You must enjoy playing against me. “Today was so difficult. It merely demonstrated your exceptional athletic ability. Congrats on another victory. For the remainder of the season, best of luck. Best wishes to you and your group.