China Open final: Coco Gauff beats Muchova, achieves feat not seen since 1968
American finds her form at last under changed coaching team, having been a slow starter in previous rounds
Coco Gauff dominated unseeded Karolina Muchova to win the China Open final in Beijing on Sunday.
The American world No 6 Gauff triumphed 6-1, 6-3 to become the first player to win each of their first seven WTA hard-court finals since the onset of the open era – the admission of professionals to leading tournaments in 1968.
Gauff added the Beijing trophy to her win in the Auckland Classic this year, collecting her second WTA 1000 title after her 2023 victory in Cincinnati, where she also beat Muchova in the final. It improved her head-to-head record against Muchova to 3-0, and she has won eight of her nine WTA finals.
“I want to say congratulations to you, Karolina, it’s great to see you back on tour,” Gauff said of her Czech 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, and you deserve everything, and hopefully you play many more finals.”
