Gauff defeats Muchova 6-1, 6-3 ABOUT WTA 1000 title in Beijing
Coco Gauff reached her second final of the season in Beijing and her first since January when she triumphed in the ASB Classic. Unable to protect him US Opened the crown last month (l. Navarro) and with double mistakes and doubts continuing to mount, she has reorganized her game and her team.
The 20-year-old American appeared mentally fragile and emotionally scarred as the frail mistakes and disappointments piled up throughout the season. Achieving a career high rank of #2 in June, it currently ranks sixth.
Karolina Muchova from the Czech Republic has had her battles this season, but they have mostly been fought off the court. After reaching the semi-finals in 2023 US Open and a high career rank of #8she struggled with her wrist and underwent surgery last January.
Since returning to the tournament during the grass court swing, she reached the final in Palermo (l. Zheng) and the semi-finals in US Open (l. Pegula). currently ranked #49the twenty-eight-year-old eliminated two top-ten opponents – Aryna Sabalenka and Qwinen Zheng – en route to the final. Gauff led head to head 2-0; like last season, in a strong field and in a straight line.
Reuters/Florence Lo
The American was looking for her second WTA 1000 title, Her first Muchova. With thirty-seven double faults in five rounds, Gauff elected to serve after winning the toss.
She opened with a wide ace and held on to love. Muchova hit an ace on the ball, but faced two deuces, three break points and dropped serve.
Gauff did 2/4 first serve and consolidate the break in love for 3-0 while Muchova did 5/6 first serve including the second ace to enter the board. The American hit two winners in a row, including her second ace, and was at love for the third time in the lead. 4-1.
Muchova served three straight faults, including a double fault, and dropped serve when she hit a backhand volley. Gauff faced break point with her first double fault, but with extra winners, she secured the set in thirty minutes.
Muchova served first in the second and with three incredible winners including a volleyed service and game held easily 15. Gauff hit three winners including her fifth ace, but dropped serve with three double faults and Muchova got the break back after three straight winners from Gauff.
The American continued to chase the base and cover the field with a sense of urgency. She did 4/4 first serve, hit two forehand volley winners and held at love to consolidate the break as Muchova missed 3/4 first serve including a double fault to drop serve.
Gauff hit her sixth ace and consolidated the break for 4-2. Muchova opened the seventh with two spectacular winners, but a double fault faced three deuces and two break points before holding for 3-4.
Gauff deftly managed her opponent and her emotions and despite serving her fifth double fault, smashed two forehand winners to lead 5-3. Muchova serving to stay in the match opened with a fantastic forehand down the line, but conceded it with four unforced errors in a row.
It was an outstanding and dominant performance from the world #6. At one hour and seventeen minutes, she squeezed it 8Career title and second in the 1000 level.
Gauff won 85First % and 43% of second serve points and hit six aces to five double faults. She was just as impressive when she came back winning 38First % and a shocking one 83% of second serve return points. She escaped 3/4 breakpoints during conversion 5/9. As the season draws to a close, Gauff is well positioned to qualify for next month’s season-ending championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and finish inside the top five.
