Coco Gauff has enjoyed another fantastic season on the WTA Tour, which she now continues at the China Open.
Although Gauff is without coach Gavin MacMillan at the China Open, she has a superb history at the event, which she won in 2024.
She defeated Karolina Muchova 6-1, 6-3 this time last year, a run that included wins over Naomi Osaka and Paula Badosa.
Osaka just knocked Gauff out of the US Open, but the latter has since moved on to Beijing as she chases further silverware this season.
Currently sitting third in the WTA rankings, the American clinched her only title of 2025 so far at the French Open.
Coco Gauff’s comments about the China Open are not a good look for the WTA Tour
Given her status as Roland Garros champion and the number two seed at the China Open, Gauff is undoubtedly one of the star names in Beijing.
But she’s certainly given the WTA Tour an unwanted headache before playing her first match, having shared her thoughts at this stage of the season in her opening press conference.
READ MORE: WTA China Open 2025: Players, prize money, schedule and everything you need to know
Gauff admitted the China Open is like a practice event, explaining: “Yeah, I mean, for me, I don’t know why, it just feels different at the end of the year. Although technically I’m the defending champion, it doesn’t feel like that at all.
“I don’t want to say ‘not care’ because obviously I’m not playing a tournament and trying to lose or anything.
“But yeah, there is definitely a weight that you kind of just don’t care in a way, especially when you’ve had like a good moment of the season.
“I think winning the French Open helped me take that weight off less. I think last year I did care, but maybe I felt a little bit like I had to do something, because I hadn’t won a big title at that point, at that time of the year yet.
“I don’t know how I feel right now. I definitely feel a lot lighter. It feels, again, like a practice tournament. So we’ll see how it goes.”
Gauff should be commended for her honesty, but at the same time her comments really aren’t a good look for the China Open or the WTA Tour.
She was careful to claim she doesn’t care at all, but such brutal honesty about the nature of the event and her feelings towards it likely won’t go down well with tournament organisers, especially given she is the defending champion.
What is Coco Gauff’s potential route to the China Open final?
Despite her comments, Gauff clearly still wants to do well in Beijing, otherwise she would have been better off skipping the event entirely.
Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from the China Open, but Gauff is among a very strong list of players looking to lift the trophy.
The 21-year-old American star has received a bye in round one, and takes on Kamilla Rakhimova in the round of 64.
A tough test could then follow against Leylah Fernandez, followed by a potential meeting with Belinda Bencic.
Number eight seed Elena Rybakina could be her quarterfinal opponent, while US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova could await in the semifinals.
And if all goes well for Gauff, the two-time Grand Slam champion could take on six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek for the trophy.
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