It took Coco Gauff almost 275 days to clinch her second title of the season! However, shortly after winning this title in Beijing, Gauff made several interesting revelations. For example, she claimed the China Open was never part of her plan. She has weathered many storms in the last few months, and all she wanted was a solid training block. However, she changed her mind, and now she has become the second American, after Serena Williams, to win the China Open. Gauff expressed she was “proud” of herself for overcoming all the obstacles she faced in recent months. Still, she believes she is a work in progress!

At just 20 years old, Gauff has already won eight titles in her career, including one Grand Slam triumph in New York last year. Coco Gauff’s journey has been full of ups and downs. She faced criticism for her trophyless run over the past few months, but now it’s time to stand tall and face the critics. Shortly after her emphatic 6-1, 6-3 triumph over Karolina Muchova, Gauff addressed her critics and emphasized that she and her game are still in a “developing” phase.

“A lot of times people forget that I’m still in the developmental phase of my career and nothing is going to be great. Most of the people doing well are 25 and older in the Top 10, maybe with the exception of Iga. We have a long way to go and I still have a lot that I need to work on and I’m proud of myself thus far,” said Coco Gauff. She further added, “I didn’t have a complete game at 15 and I don’t have one right now, but I’ve been on tour playing every week almost, trying to be better. I’m just super proud of that.”

Iga Swiatek is three years older than Coco Gauff and has won 22 titles so far, including five Grand Slam triumphs. Astonishing, isn’t it? Both Gauff and Swiatek are poised to keep the flag flying high for women’s tennis over the next decade. In February last year, former American tennis player Mary Joe Fernandez commented on young Gauff: “With Coco, I also think she’s a work in progress. She’s 18, there’s a lot still to work on in her game. But I also think that she’s going in the right direction.”

We saw Coco Gauff win the 2023 US Open after that, but she went through a rough patch and was seen disheartened after several defeats this year. Almost 20 months after Fernandez’s observations, Gauff might now have also realized that she is indeed on the right track. What did Gauff say after her win at the 2024 China Open?

“I am in the right direction” – this win at the China Open is like an assurance to Coco Gauff

After beating Karolina Muchova, Gauff said, “Today I just felt on, even from the first game. I had that feeling that I felt last year, too. Sometimes you just wake up and you’re like, ‘Today is my day.” Coco Gauff truly dominated every aspect of the match against the Czech player, not allowing Muchova to gain control at any point. This win will surely boost her confidence for the rest of the season, and her fans will now be expecting even more from her next year.

Although Gauff initially considered skipping the tournament, she was overjoyed after the victory. She said she was “super relaxed” before the final match. “I was just like, I don’t know, this match is not going to 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 practicing on, too, and stick to it.”

Her never-say-die attitude makes her a real special player on the Tour. We’ve often seen her emotions run high after wins. She has cried before after claiming titles, but did she get emotional after this match? While Gauff was seen wiping away a few tears after the win, she later clarified, “Oh, no, I didn’t cry. It might be something in my eye. Trust me, I have cried after winning before. No, I didn’t cry today.”

Undoubtedly, we will see more of such moments in the months ahead, but fans may need to show a bit more patience with her. After all, she’s still a work in progress! Next up for the American is the Wuhan Open. Do you think she can carry forward this winning momentum there as well?