Coco Gauff Will Compete at China Open with ‘Zero Expectations’

Now that the four Grand Slam events of the season are done and dusted, Coco Gauff believes she won’t be putting much pressure on herself going into the remaining events of the season. She will be entering the China Open with no expectations, even though she has played two semifinals and won once in her previous three appearances.

Gauff reached the semifinals here on her debut in 2023, then ended the event in her favor the following season by beating Karolina Muchova. She lost to eventual champion Amanda Anisimova in the last four last year.

Honestly, I have no expectations this week. I don’t know why I always do well here, but I always enter this tournament with zero expectations. Maybe that’s why I’ve been doing well here.

Coco Gauff said at the pre-tournament press conference (H/T: WTA Tennis)

Gauff will be ending the season with no Grand Slam titles. She first lost in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, the third round of the French Open (where she competed as the defending champion), and in the semifinals of both Wimbledon and the US Open.

I feel like a lot of the pressure is off. I think that’s also part of the reason why maybe I do do well at this part of the season, just because I feel a little bit more relaxed. The main thing is the Slams being over, it’s a lot less chaos now.

Coco Gauff added

Gauff will be chasing her fifth WTA 1000 singles title in Beijing. Reigning champion Anisimova withdrew due to an injury and, in fact, has ended her season.

This season, the 22-year-old has so far played three finals, losing the Miami Open to Aryna Sabalenka, the Italian Open to Elina Svitolina, before defeating countrywoman Jessica Pegula at the Cincinnati Open to end her title drought.

After the China Open, she will be competing at the Wuhan Open as the defending champion. The China Open kicks off on September 30.

Coco Gauff on Elena Rybakina’s two Grand Slam wins

The most successful player on the WTA tour in terms of Grand Slam titles is Elena Rybakina, having lifted the Australian Open and the US Open by defeating Aryna Sabalenka both times. She also reached the finals of the Indian Wells Open and the Canadian Open, losing them to Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, respectively.

Apart from the two Majors, she also defeated Karolina Muchova in the Stuttgart Open final. After the US Open, she dethroned Sabalenka to become the newest World No.1.

Why is Rybakina achieving so much this season? When Coco Gauff was asked about it at the pre-tournament press conference in Beijing, she said:

I don’t really think there’s a theory. I feel like Elena’s always been like a top player. I think she just had some struggles with injuries, maybe consistency. Obviously she was going through her own things.

Gauff, Swiatek, and Sabalenka used to dominate in Majors in recent years. But none of these players have tasted success in these events this season.

I think now everything seems like it’s come together. So it’s not a surprise at all that she’s won two Slams this year. I don’t know. I don’t really think there is a theory. Women’s tennis over the past has been so not surprising, but for fans it’s surprising. On the guys, it’s so consistent. So I think for other people it seems so surprising.

Coco Gauff added

On the men’s tour, Alexander Zverev ended the Carlos Alcaraz–Jannik Sinner duopoly in Majors by beating Flavio Cobolli in the French Open final. He then beat home favorite Ben Shelton in the US Open final to win his career’s second Grand Slam title.

Also read: Patrick Mouratoglou Makes ‘Bored’ and ‘Tired’ Claims About Carlos Alcaraz After His Decision to Play Laver Cup