Coco Gauff Enters China Open With Zero Expectations and Focus on Improvement
Coco Gauff enters the 2026 China Open in Beijing with zero expectations and a view of the post-Grand Slam swing as a practice month to build momentum for 2027. Following a career stretch that includes her 2024 Beijing title and two semifinal appearances, the American star is seeded No. 3 and aims to refine her first-serve aggression.
Beijing Consistency and the Zero-Expectation Approach
In three career appearances at the China Open driven by Mercedes-Benz, Gauff has maintained a remarkable baseline of success. She captured the tournament title in 2024 and reached the final four in her other appearances, making the venue one of her most reliable stops on the WTA Tour. Yet, she approaches the hard courts in the Chinese capital without specific targets.
“Honestly, I have no expectations this week,” Gauff told reporters. “I don’t know why I always do well here, but I always enter this tournament with zero expectations. Maybe that’s why I’ve been doing well here.”
Treating the Asian Swing as a Practice Month for 2027
With the demanding Grand Slam calendar concluded for the year, Gauff views the remainder of the 2026 season as an extended training block. She explained that the absence of major tournament chaos allows her to relax and focus on long-term development.
“I feel like a lot of the pressure is off,” Gauff stated. “I think that’s also part of the reason why maybe I do do well at this part of the season, just because I feel a little bit more relaxed. The main thing is the slams being over, it’s a lot less chaos now.”
Rather than chasing immediate ranking points, her matches and training sessions in Beijing and Wuhan serve a singular objective. Gauff treats this stint in China as a practice month, focusing on what to implement and improve ahead of the 2027 season.
Refining Aggression and First-Serve Statistics
Statistical improvement forms the core of Gauff’s autumn agenda. Through 59 matches played during the 2026 season, Gauff has landed 62.5% of her first serves, winning 68.4% of those points. Across 663 service games played, she has secured 468 holds, translating to a 70.6% success rate. While these metrics closely mirror her 2025 performance, she intends to elevate her efficiency.
“Yeah, I think just going for my shots a little bit more, trying to be a bit more aggressive. I think also higher first-serve percentage. I win a lot of first-serve percentage points, so I’m just trying to increase that number for making more first serves in,” Gauff noted. “Those are the main things, without giving away too much.”
Draw Outlook and the WTA Finals Race
The final stretch of the 2026 season still holds high stakes for the American competitor. Following the withdrawal of Jessica Pegula, Gauff occupies the No. 3 seed position in Beijing. She awaits the winner of the second-round matchup between Camila Osorio and Lanlana Tararudee.
Beyond Beijing, Gauff defends her title at the upcoming tournament in Wuhan. She also sits firmly in contention for the WTA Finals at Indian Wells, currently holding the No. 5 spot in the race to qualify for the season-ending championship.