Coco Gauff Reflects on the 2025 China Open
In reflecting on her recent performance at the 2025 China Open, Coco Gauff is choosing to highlight the positives despite her inability to retain her title. Throughout her time in Beijing, Gauff showcased her grit, earning tight victories over players such as Belinda Bencic and Leylah Fernandez. Notably, her triumph over Bencic secured her participation in the WTA Finals, a streak she has maintained since 2022.
Semifinal Setback
However, her journey came to an abrupt halt in the semifinals, where Gauff faced a challenging showdown against fellow American Amanda Anisimova. This match proved to be one of Gauff’s most lopsided defeats, culminating in a stark 1-6, 2-6 scoreline. The 21-year-old found herself struggling to counter Anisimova’s relentless power, with notable weaknesses in her serving game. Gauff’s second serve has often been a liability, and in this match, she was broken five times and managed a mere 38% win rate on her first serve.
Looking Ahead
Despite this setback, Gauff remains optimistic about her progress. Since bringing on biomechanics coach Gavin MacMillan, she has been working diligently to overhaul her serve. Speaking ahead of the upcoming 2025 Wuhan Open, she expressed satisfaction with her development, stating,
“I feel a lot more comfortable with it. I’m still learning a new motion, but Beijing was a good tournament for me in terms of serving. There were instances where it got me out of trouble.”
While Gauff admits there’s still improvement to be made, notably referencing her double faults, she refuses to let the semifinal match color her overall experience in Beijing. She noted,
“I think it’s important not to frame the entire tournament based on the last match. I had moments where my serve was efficient, even if the last match didn’t reflect that.”
Looking forward, Gauff views the end-of-season tournaments as a critical time to refine her skills before the 2026 Australian Open in January. She recalls her successful run last year, which included a victory in Beijing and the WTA Finals, stating,
“I want to maintain the same mindset and focus on improving for next year. Though I’m deeply competitive, I want to use this time to build my confidence and fine-tune my game.”
Her focus remains on transforming her serve into a reliable weapon, poised to contribute significantly to her game as she goes forward in her tennis career.
