Gauff rolls previous Muchova for China Open title

Coco Gauff obtained her 2nd title this season with a lopsided 6-1, 6-3 victory over Karolina Muchova in the closing of the China Open on Sunday.

The sixth-ranked Gauff, 20, grew to change into the youngest China Open champion in 14 years. She is also the 2nd American champion in Beijing, following Serena Williams’ title runs in 2004 and 2013.

It became Gauff’s eighth profession title. She improved her portray in tour finals to eight-1 and now has a 7-0 portray in no longer easy-court docket finals, a feat never executed before in the Open know-how.

“I want to explain congratulations to you, Karolina, or no longer it’s colossal to dawdle attempting to search out you again on tour,” Gauff talked about of Muchova, who spent an extended spell sidelined after suffering a wrist hurt on the 2023 US Open. “I mediate you are such an fabulous participant, and you deserve all the pieces, and confidently you play many extra finals.”

The match became Gauff’s first after including Matt Daly to her instructing team, following her destroy up with Brad Gilbert closing month.

“I would prefer to thank my team. It is our first match collectively as a paunchy, total team,” Gauff talked about. “Thank you, Matt, this is our first match collectively, and obviously, or no longer it’s going properly, so thanks for serving to me one day of this week.”

Gauff, who defended her Auckland title earlier this season, wasted no time and took the gap station in 31 minutes. She dropped correct 5 aspects on her first support, hit 24 winners and broke Muchova 5 situations.

Gauff’s catch in Beijing improved her potentialities of qualifying for the WTA Finals that comprises the eight high gamers for the third consecutive one year.

She’s going to overtake Jessica Pegula to rob the No. 5 station before the closing WTA 1000 match of the season, the Wuhan Open initiating Monday.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this portray.