Coco Gauff dominated the unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova to win the China Open final 6-1, 6-3 and become the first player to triumph in each of their first seven WTA hard-court finals in the Open era.
The American fired 24 winners to add the Beijing trophy to her victory at the Auckland Classic this year and win the second WTA 1000 title of her career after her 2023 victory in Cincinnati, where she also beat Muchova in the final.
“I want to say congratulations to you Karolina, it’s great to see you back on tour,” Gauff, the world No 6, said of her opponent, who spent an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a wrist injury at last year’s US Open. “I think you’re such an amazing player. You deserve everything and hopefully you play many more finals.”
Gauff, who improved her head-to-head record against Muchova to 3-0, has now won eight of her nine WTA finals. The tournament was the 20-year-old’s first since adding Matt Daly to her coaching team, after her split with Brad Gilbert last month.
“I would like to thank my team. It’s our first tournament together as a full, complete team,” Gauff said. “Thank you Matt, this is our first tournament together and obviously it’s going well, so thank you for helping me throughout this week.”
Heading into the final, Gauff had lost the first set in three consecutive matches and the former US Open champion was determined to buck that trend, serving to love in the opening game and breaking for a 2-0 lead. She continued to build on that momentum with two more holds to love, before breaking again to go 5-1 ahead.
After dropping no points in her first three service games, some doubt crept in as Gauff was forced to defend a break point, but she was able to clinch the set with an emphatic forehand winner.
Gauff’s serve continued to falter early in the second set, leading to two double faults as Muchova broke for a 2-0 lead, but the American responded by turning up the aggression and approaching the net to break back immediately.
Muchova, who beat the Australian Open and US Open champion, Aryna Sabalenka, and the Olympic champion, Zheng Qinwen, in previous rounds, appeared deflated after losing her advantage and won just two points in the next three games as Gauff eased to a 4-2 lead. The fourth seed sealed the win by breaking serve when Muchova’s backhand sailed long on match point.
Earlier on Sunday the Olympic women’s doubles gold medallists, Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, defeated Chan Hao-ching and Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-4 to earn their third WTA Tour title of the year.
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Sinner and Alcaraz advance in Shanghai
At the ATP Shanghai Masters, Jannik Sinner booked his place in the fourth round with a comeback victory over Tomás Martín Etcheverry. The world No 1 lost the opening set on a tie-break before he bounced back to secure a 6-7 (3), 6-4 6-2 win in two hours and 39 minutes.
“It was a very tough match, physically and mentally, so I am very happy to get through this one,” said Sinner, who will face either Roberto Carballés Baena or Ben Shelton in the last 16. Daniil Medvedev also fought back from a set down to defeat Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.
Carlos Alcaraz earned his spot in the fourth round with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 win over the wildcard Wu Yibing. The Spaniard, who remains unbeaten since his surprise early exit at the US Open, will play Gaël Monfils or Ugo Humbert for a spot in the last eight. PA Media
Source: theguardian.com
