Coco Gauff picked up her first win since the US Open in Beijing, as she gets her Asian Swing underway.
After receiving a bye at the China Open, the American defeated Kamilla Rakhimova in the second round, overcoming the Russian in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0.
She played her first professional match in nearly a month, after Gauff was not selected by Lindsay Davenport to play for the USA in the Billie Jean King Cup, which took place after the US Open.
In her return to action at the WTA 1000 event, the two-time Grand Slam champion has just set an impressive record.
Coco Gauff achieves feat at the China Open after opening victory
With her triumph over Rakhimova, Gauff is now the youngest player to record 11 wins in women’s singles at the China Open since the inception of the tournament in 2004.
The 21-year-old is competing at the event for just the third time in her career, having enjoyed two lengthy campaigns in 2023 and 2024.
Gauff reached the semifinals of the China Open in her debut run before bowing out to eventual champion Iga Swiatek.
The next year, she clinched the title, beating the likes of Naomi Osaka, Paula Badosa and Karolina Muchova en route to hoisting the trophy.
Coco Gauff’s third-round opponent at the 2025 China Open
Gauff’s third-round opponent in Beijing comes in the form of former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, whom she has played twice before.
Both meetings between the two stars have come this season, the first of which was at the United Cup in late December.
There, Gauff won in straight sets and followed it up with a second victory over Fernandez in their third-round clash at the Australian Open.
The Canadian booked her place in round three of the China Open after battling past former Grand Slam semifinalist Maria Sakkari.
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