MATCH REPORT | 2024 China Open Final: Clinical Coco Gauff saves the best for last in sublime Muchova win

Coco Gauff is the champion at the China Open in Beijing saving her best for last in a sublime display to dismantle Karolina Muchova 6-1, 6-3 who has been for many the best player in women's tennis right now.

Gauff was facing Muchova in her second WTA 1000 final and it was the same outcome as last time with the American ace sealing victory to add a confidence booster.

In what is only her second tournament with her new coach Matt Daly who seems to have eradicated some semblance of errors from the game of the former US Open champion.

She had a poor few months in particular in majors with Emma Navarro being the cork in the bottle in downing her twice in a row. But ahead of Wuhan and the WTA Finals which she has basically assured her place in, her game is in a good place.

Beijing is her second WTA title of the season and the eighth of her career. She began the 2024 season with a title defence in Auckland but has not won since or reached a final such has been the decline in her game. She shored up her quest though to qualify for Riyadh entering the week as No.6 in the race and now she overtakes US Open finalist Jessica Pegula who displaced her as American No.1 earlier this summer.

Gauff improved to 3-0 against Muchova and has won all six sets against the Czech ace. She also improves her final record to 8-1 and is unbeaten in hard court finals.

For Muchova, it was her worst game at the wrong time as she falls to Gauff in a pretty poor loss. She has come a long way though. From being on the shelf a year ago to now reaching the semi-finals of the US Open and finishing runner-up in Beijing. She is playing some of the best tennis of her career no mind on the tour right now and heads into Wuhan full of confidence.

Ironically she also sits top 25 in the race despite only starting her season in June. Some run for Muchova but a bridge too far today as Gauff took her apart with some of her best play all season.