American tennis sensation Coco Gauff made history on Sunday as she eased into the China Open, collecting her 13th title and ensuring a great season. Apart from Gauff’s obvious brilliance, victory over World No. 2 Iga Świątek in the final assured the 19-year-old her place as the youngest champion of the coveted tournament.
The victory in Beijing is Gauff’s fourth of the season, besides her first Grand Slam triumph when she won at the US Open in September. Gauff was impressed with aggressive play from behind the baseline as she broke Świątek’s serve repeatedly and commanded the overall match.
“It’s moments like this I dreamed of for a long time,” Gauff said after the match at the trophy ceremony. “To end the season with a win like this means everything, especially against a player like Iga, whom I have so much respect for.”
Gauff played her way through to the title at the China Open with no less than dominant play. She lost only one set during the tournament and beat several players ranked high against her-she mixes maturity with composure, something evident in her quick rise to prominence in the tennis world. Her victory over Świątek is particularly noteworthy given that the Polish star proved one of the toughest opponents Gauff faced, but the youngster’s victory speaks well to her ability to not only play with the best but defeat them as well.
Świątek has also had a fantastic year and showed support for the young player. “Coco played incredible tennis today. She’s improving all the time and it’s exciting to see how far she’s come. I’ll be back stronger for the next challenge,” Świątek said.
And then comes the China Open title, sealing Gauff’s status as one of the brightest talents in sports. Her victory also brings her closer to the top of the WTA rankings and earns her a reputation that has grown more brutal on the biggest stages.
With the tennis season drawing to a close, a historic win by Gauff in Beijing ushers in an apt end to a break-out year for her. This is at 19 years, coming at a time when this sport has proven that she is not only the future of women’s tennis but a dominant force in the present as well.
