Gauff powers past Muchova to clinch China Open title in dominant fashion

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Coco Gauff claimed her eighth career WTA title, dispatching unseeded Karolina Muchova in straight sets to win the China Open.

The world number six triumphed 6-1, 6-3 in an hour and 17 minutes, showing no signs of the serving woes that had plagued her earlier in the tournament.

Muchova, ranked 49th after a wrist injury earlier this year, couldn’t match Gauff’s power and consistency. Despite entering the final with impressive wins over Aryna Sabalenka and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, she struggled against the athletic American.

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Gauff, the fourth seed, had been forced to rally from a set down in her previous three matches. However, in the final, she dictated play from the start, capitalising on Muchova’s 24 unforced errors to wrap up the first set in just 30 minutes.

After losing the opening set, Muchova made a stronger start in the second, breaking Gauff for a 2-0 lead. Yet, Gauff’s resilience showed as she broke back immediately, setting off a four-game winning streak that sealed her victory.

While Muchova fought valiantly, her backhand sailed long on match point, handing Gauff the win. Gauff’s 24 winners were a stark contrast to her opponent’s errors, showcasing her dominance throughout the match.

The 20-year-old credited a visit to Beijing’s Forbidden City with Carlos Alcaraz for her good fortune, humorously linking it to her improved performance. “Maybe I’ll return next year for the same luck,” she quipped to an amused crowd.

Despite this being Gauff’s first final since January, it was another significant milestone following her 2023 US Open victory. Under the guidance of her new coach Matt Daly, Gauff has continued to impress on the court.

With this win, Gauff moves up to fourth in the Race to the Finals, setting her sights on the season-ending tournament in Riyadh. Her next challenge comes at the Wuhan Open, which begins on Monday.

Tags: China Open, #ChinaOpen, Coco Gauff, WTA, Karolina Muchova, Czech, US Open, #NewsRoundTheClock, #nrtcnewsnigeria, #nrtcnews, #nrtcsports, #nrtcnigeria.