Tennis

Tennis Fans in China Shower Players with Love and Unique GiftsAs the tennis season reaches the Asian swing, players are finding a much-needed energy boost at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open. The reason? The famously passionate sports fans in China.From the China Open in Beijing to the Wuhan Open, players have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of Chinese tennis lovers. They have been showered with unique gifts, including personalized plush toys, elaborate banners, and dedicated fan art. Even Western players have been delighted by the outpouring of support."Honestly, it's the place I've come [where] I've gotten the most gifts," said 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff. "You'll get bracelets from some fans in the U.S., but here, you can tell they really take time to give you the gifts and see what you like."For two-time Wuhan champion Aryna Sabalenka, who has been dubbed an "old friend" of Wuhan by Chinese media, the gifts often have a tiger theme. Sabalenka has a tiger tattoo on her forearm, a nod to her fighting spirit and the fact that she was born in the Year of the Tiger on the Chinese Zodiac."My favorite [gift] so far is the tiger hat. It's so funny and so cool. I kept it. It's in my bag," said Sabalenka. "I also have a big fan who brought me a huge bucket with a lot of little gifts, including gifts for my team."But what do players do with all these gifts? Traveling week in and week out with loads of luggage, gear, and trophies, it's a logistical challenge to accommodate extra pounds of keepsakes.While it's not always possible to hang onto every gift, many players are eager to keep as many as they can. Keychains with stuffed animals become permanent accessories on racquet bags, and the bulkiest items may get shipped home."Last week in Beijing, I received a huge panda. It weighs around two kilos!" said Mirra Andreeva. "I'm going to take it home, of course. I received a lot of gifts. I don't mind! I like that."In addition to gifts, players are also met with an abundance of autograph seekers. National hero Zheng Qinwen, a native of Wuhan, is by far the most popular target. Her countrywomen like Yuan Yue and Wang Xinyu are also riding the wave of the post-Olympics boom in tennis interest in China.The autograph requests range from action shots and fan art to more unusual items."I signed one of my wedding pictures, which was a little strange," recalled No. 2 seed Jessica Pegula. "There was also a woman who had pictures of her helping us pick up balls printed out, and I signed those."These interactions provide a much-needed boost for players who are nearing the end of the season. With season-ending events like WTA Finals Riyadh and the Billie Jean King Cup approaching, the enthusiasm of Chinese fans is a welcome change of pace from the more demure crowds at tournaments like Wimbledon or Indian Wells."After my final in Beijing, there was a lady who was saying, 'I love you, I love you,' over and over," said Gauff. "The security guards were laughing. I was laughing too because of how enthusiastic she was! The fans have been very passionate."

Coco Gauff, the rising star of American tennis, has added another title to her impressive resume with a dominant victory at the China Open. The 20-year-old defeated Karolina Muchova 6-1, 6-3 in the final, becoming the youngest China Open champion in 14 years.Gauff's triumph in Beijing marks her eighth career title and extends her remarkable record in tour finals to 8-1. She has now won all seven of her hard-court finals, a feat unmatched in the Open Era.The American's dominance was evident from the outset as she raced through the opening set in just 31 minutes. She dropped only five points on her first serve, hit 24 winners, and broke Muchova five times.Gauff's momentum continued in the second set, as she broke Muchova's serve twice more to secure the victory. Her impressive performance has boosted her chances of qualifying for the WTA Finals, featuring the top eight players, for the third consecutive year.With her title in Beijing, Gauff has overtaken Jessica Pegula to take the No. 5 spot in the WTA rankings ahead of the final WTA 1000 tournament of the season, the Wuhan Open.In the men's draw, top-ranked Jannik Sinner overcame a one-set deficit to rally to a 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2 win against Tomas Martin Etcheverry at the Shanghai Masters.Sinner, who won his 250th career match the previous night, faced a stern test against the No. 37-ranked Argentine. However, the Italian found his range in the second set and broke Etcheverry twice in the third to advance.Fifth-ranked Daniil Medvedev also came from behind for a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory against Matteo Arnaldi to book his fourth-round berth against either No. 12-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas or Alexandre Muller.Second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, who won the China Open on Wednesday, defeated Chinese player Wu Yibing 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Coco Gauff's remarkable dominance in tour-level finals continues to astound the tennis world. The American prodigy has extended her impressive record to 8-1, showcasing her unwavering determination and exceptional talent.Gauff's path to the China Open title in Beijing was not without its challenges. She faced adversity in her last three rounds, including a thrilling comeback victory over Paula Badosa in the semifinals. However, when the stakes were highest, Gauff rose to the occasion, dispatching former Top 10 player Karolina Muchova in the final with ease, 6-1, 6-3.Gauff's dominance in finals is evident in her statistics. She has won her last six finals in a row since her only career loss in a final to Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros in 2022. In her latest triumph in Beijing, Gauff hit three times as many winners as unforced errors and finished with nearly twice as many points as Muchova.Gauff's impressive record in finals extends beyond her recent success. She boasts the best career winning percentage in finals of any woman in the Top 10, with a minimum of two finals played. Her 88.9% winning percentage is a testament to her ability to perform under pressure and deliver when it matters most.Gauff's dominance is not limited to the Top 10. She also holds the best career winning percentage in finals of any woman in the Top 100, with a minimum of five finals played. Her 4-0 record in finals is a testament to her consistency and ability to rise to the occasion against players of all levels.Gauff's success in finals is a reflection of her exceptional talent, unwavering determination, and ability to perform under pressure. As she continues to climb the ranks of women's tennis, it is clear that she is a force to be reckoned with and a future star of the sport.

Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova, two rising stars in women's tennis, will face off in the China Open final on Sunday, a rematch of their thrilling encounter in Cincinnati last summer.Gauff, the 18-year-old American, has had a rollercoaster ride in Beijing, coming from a set down three times to reach the final. Despite her struggles, she has shown remarkable resilience and determination, saving four break points against Paula Badosa in the semifinals to keep her hopes alive.Muchova, the 26-year-old Czech, has also had a challenging year, missing the first six months due to a wrist injury. However, she has looked in impressive form in Beijing, edging top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals and home favorite Zheng Qinwen in the semifinals.On paper, Muchova appears to have the edge over Gauff. She is a more complete player with a wider range of shots and a more consistent serve. Gauff, on the other hand, has struggled with her serve and forehand at times this week.However, Gauff has proven that she is a fierce competitor, never giving up even when facing adversity. She has also benefited from the positive influence of her new coach, Matt Daly, who has helped her stay focused and upbeat.The key to the match will likely be Gauff's ability to neutralize Muchova's strengths. If she can keep Muchova off balance with her powerful groundstrokes and force her to make errors, she has a chance to pull off another upset.Muchova, on the other hand, will need to maintain her consistency and avoid giving Gauff any easy points. She will also need to be patient and wait for her opportunities to attack.Ultimately, the winner of the China Open final will be the player who can execute their game plan better and handle the pressure of the big stage. Both Gauff and Muchova have shown that they have the talent and determination to win, so it promises to be a thrilling encounter.

Coco Gauff's resilience and assertive play propelled her to a hard-fought 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Paula Badosa in the semifinals of the China Open on Saturday.The opening set was a tale of missed opportunities for Gauff, who squandered 10 break points before finally breaking Badosa's serve in the marathon eighth game. However, Badosa immediately broke back and sealed the set with a forehand miscue from Gauff.In the second set, Badosa broke early but Gauff fought back valiantly, saving four break points and holding for 2-3. A crucial break at 4-3 gave Gauff the momentum, and she held her serve to level the match.The third set was all Gauff's as she went on an 18-for-20-point run, breaking Badosa twice and forcing unforced errors from her opponent. Badosa briefly regained her composure but handed the re-break back with a botched forehand. Gauff served out the match with an ace, securing her first final appearance since winning the Auckland title in January.Gauff's victory leveled her head-to-head record with Badosa to 3-3 and marked her second win over the Spaniard this season. She now awaits the winner of the other semifinal between Zheng Qinwen and Karolina Muchova in the final.

Zheng Qinwen, the rising star of Chinese tennis, shared a heartwarming moment with Olympic swimming champion Zhang Yufei at the China Open on Friday. Zhang, who conducted the ceremonial coin toss before Zheng's quarterfinal match, received a rare hug from the usually reserved Zheng.Zheng, who made history this summer as the first Chinese tennis player to win a singles gold medal, has been a fan favorite in her return to Beijing. However, she admitted that she is not typically a hugger."I don't usually give people hugs," Zheng said after the match. "On the tour, I don't usually give people hugs. I see my hugs as very precious. So I treat Yufei as a true friend."Zhang, who won six medals in Tokyo, including two golds, became a viral sensation for her struggles to find a place to put all her medals. Zheng said she and Zhang share a lot in common, including their positive energy."We have a lot of things in common," Zheng said. "We share positive energy together. I really appreciate this friend. Very happy she was here today to do the coin toss."In her first WTA 1000 semifinal, Zheng will face Karolina Muchova, who upset top seed Aryna Sabalenka. Zheng is seeking to make more history for her country by becoming the first Chinese woman to reach the singles final at the China Open since the tournament began in 2004.

Aryna Sabalenka's impressive 15-match winning streak was abruptly halted in Beijing on Friday by a familiar adversary, Karolina Muchova. The Czech player staged a remarkable comeback, erasing a break deficit in the decider to secure a 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4 victory over the No. 1 seed at the China Open.Muchova's resilience was evident from the outset, as she saved a pair of set points while serving at 4-5 in the opening set. Despite Sabalenka's apparent control of the match, Muchova rallied to claim the final 10 points of the encounter.Sabalenka's defeat marks her first loss since August 10, when she was eliminated by Amanda Anisimova in the quarterfinals of Toronto. While the setback prevents the world No. 2 from overtaking Iga Swiatek in the race to the WTA Finals, Sabalenka will have another opportunity next week at the 1000-level event in Wuhan.Meanwhile, Muchova has now extended her winning streak against Sabalenka to three matches, including a memorable victory in the 2023 French Open final. The 28-year-old is aiming to capture her first title in over five years, having last lifted a trophy in Seoul in September 2019.In the semifinals, Muchova will face home favorite Zheng Qinwen, who overcame a challenging serving day to defeat Mirra Andreeva in three sets. Zheng's victory marks her first WTA 1000 semifinal appearance.Zheng's path to the semifinals included a victory over Muchova in the Palermo title match in July, which preceded her gold medal triumph at the Paris Olympics. The Wuhan native will be eager to repeat her success against Muchova and advance to the final.

Sixth-ranked Coco Gauff overcame a sluggish start to defeat Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the quarterfinals of the China Open on Thursday. Gauff will face Paula Badosa of Spain in the semifinals, who earlier ended local wild card Zhang Shuai's impressive run at the title.Starodubtseva, ranked 115th in the world, had not lost a set in her three matches this week and quickly took the lead against Gauff. The American struggled in the first set, making numerous errors and failing to hold serve. However, Gauff showed her resilience by saving two break points in her opening service game of the second set and breaking Starodubtseva's serve to take a 3-1 lead.Gauff continued to dominate the second and third sets, losing only three more games. She displayed her powerful serve and aggressive groundstrokes, forcing Starodubtseva into errors. The American's victory marks her second consecutive comeback win after she rallied from a set down against Naomi Osaka in the previous round.Meanwhile, Badosa continued her impressive form by defeating Zhang Shuai 6-1, 7-6 (4) in the other quarterfinal. The Spaniard has won 28 of her last 35 matches and has reached the semifinals of three of her past five tournaments.Zhang, who entered the tournament on a 24-match losing streak, had been the surprise of the week. She had not dropped a set in her four matches, but she was unable to match Badosa's power and consistency. The Spaniard broke Zhang's serve three times in the opening set and rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the second set to win the tiebreak.

Coco Gauff's resilience shone through at the 2024 China Open as she overcame an ailing Naomi Osaka in a hard-fought second-round encounter. The match took a dramatic turn when Osaka, who had taken the first set, was forced to retire due to illness with the score tied at 3-6, 6-4.Gauff, who recently parted ways with coach Brad Gilbert, has been working with Matt Daly and Jean-Christophe Faurel. Despite initial struggles with her forehand and serve, she displayed improved form in Beijing, defeating Clara Burel and Katie Boulter to set up the clash with Osaka.Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, returned to action after a year-long maternity leave with renewed determination. However, her comeback has been marked by inconsistent performances, including a second-round exit at the US Open. She made a coaching change, bringing in Patrick Mouratoglou, but the partnership has yet to yield significant results.In the match against Gauff, Osaka started strongly, taking the first set with relative ease. However, she began to show signs of illness during the second set, taking a medical timeout. Despite her discomfort, she managed to break Gauff's serve and take a 3-1 lead.Gauff fought back, breaking Osaka's serve in the second game of the second set. However, she failed to capitalize on several break point opportunities, allowing Osaka to level the set at 2-2. Osaka then broke Gauff's serve again, putting herself in a commanding position.Undeterred, Gauff raised her level of play, winning four consecutive games to force a decider. However, Osaka's physical condition deteriorated, and she was unable to continue. Gauff expressed sympathy for her opponent, saying, "I wish Naomi a speedy recovery. Nobody wants to win a match like this, especially at one set all."Gauff will now face Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva in the quarterfinals. Starodubtseva has enjoyed a breakthrough week in Beijing, defeating No. 10 seed Anna Kalinskaya in straight sets to reach her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal.