Coco Gauff reigned supreme at the 2024 China Open on Sunday, beating Karolina Muchova in the final to win her first WTA 1000 of the year. Immediately afterwards, the American couldn't resist taking a potshot at her detractors.
Gauff came into the final with a 7-1 win/loss record in WTA finals, with her sole loss coming at the 2022 French Open against Iga Swiatek. Of the seven titles, four had come at WTA 250 events, along with one Grand Slam trophy, one WTA 1000 and one WTA 500 title each. Her previous trophy run was nearly nine months ago, at the Auckland Open at the start of this year.
Against Muchova in Beijing, Gauff put any concerns about her capacity to win big titles again to bed, delivering a solid performance. The World No. 6 stormed through with a 6-1, 6-3 win, bringing home her eighth tour title in the process.
Taking to Instagram minutes later, Coco Gauff posted a picture of the China Open trophy, adding a little message for people who said she couldn't win a title bigger than WTA 250 tournaments.
""sHe OnLy wInS 250s" Well.. WHOMP WHOMP," Gauff wrote.
On her way to the final, Gauff had taken down the likes of four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka and former World No. 2 Paula Badosa. Muchova, on the other hand, also had a phenomenal run at the China Open leading to the final, beating the likes of World No. 2 and Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen.
"I lost them all the same way" - Karolina Muchova stumped about her three straight losses to Coco Gauff, including China Open final
Speaking after the loss in the China Open final, Karolina Muchova opened up about her record against Coco Gauff, which is now 0-3 with the Czech yet to win a set against the youngster. Muchova conceded that all three of her losses have been quite similar, and was stumped about the nature of the defeats as well.
Muchova pointed to Gauff's physical playstyle as a possible reason for why she finds it so tough against the former US Open champ, adding that their battles made her feel uncomfortable on the court.
"I lost to her three times in a row. I'll say very similar losses. I lost them all the same way. It was always the latest rounds of the tournaments when I got many matches under the belt. It's very physical with her. I felt like the second one always in the rallies," Muchova said.
"Yeah, I guess her game... I don't know. It's tough to say. I felt like I didn't play my best, so it's tough to say. It makes me probably uncomfortable when I lost to her three times in a row," she added.
Up next, Gauff will be in action at the WTA 1000 Wuhan Open, along with the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Karolina Muchova and Jessica Pegula.