Coco Gauff reveals team wanted her to skip Asian swing after US Open disappointment

Sunday, 12 October 2025 at 20:15

byErik Virostko

Coco Gauff had a very successful Asian swing this year, and it almost never happened, as her team wanted her to skip this part of the season.

Gauff lost in the fourth round of the US Open to Naomi Osaka. As a former champion, the young American always aspires to do well at the New York Slam, but this year, her run was cut short.

After the US Open, there is one last important part of the season called the Asian swing. Some players skip certain parts of this swing, such as Aryna Sabalenka, who withdrew from the China Open.

Gauff could have joined the world No. 1 player had she listened to the advice from her coach, Jean-Christophe Faurel. "JC," as Gauff calls him, advised the American No. 1 to skip the Asian swing this year.

Had she made that decision, Gauff wouldn't have reached the China Open semi-finals, and she would have also missed out on her third career WTA 1000 title, which she won in Wuhan. That's why she called out her coach during her speech after winning the title in Wuhan.

"I’d like to thank my team, it was a great Asian swing. I’m going to call JC out. He originally didn’t want me to come because I had a tough US Open! But I had to prove him wrong, I’m a very stubborn person, so maybe he said that on purpose for me to have a good result here. But yeah, thank you guys."

"Thank you, Richard, thank you, Maria. We have a new addition this Asian swing, Joe, he’s been a lot of fun, so I appreciate him. And then we have Gavin, he’s in South Africa right now, also a new addition, but very important to this process and this result, so thank you all. I know we have our ups and downs, but this moment makes it worth it, so I appreciate you guys a lot."

Coco Gauff reveals how Jessica Pegula treated her when she first arrived

Gauff beat Jessica Pegula in the Wuhan Open final. The two know each other well, as they used to be doubles partners. Although they don't play together anymore, they maintain a good relationship.

The 21-year-old congratulated Pegula on a final run after their match, and also revealed that the experienced American was one of the first players to treat her nicely when she arrived on the Tour as a teenager.

“I’d like to congratulate Jess on an incredible tournament. You’re playing a lot of three-setters, you’re a three-set queen, so I was determined not to let you get there today because it felt like the odds would be in your favor in the third set!"

"When I came on the tour, you were one of the first people to be nice to me and welcome me with open arms, and that really goes a long way, it still goes a long way, so I appreciate you, and it’s great to finally play in a final against you, and I hope for many more."

"So congratulations and thank you, it’s an honor to share the court with you. And congrats to your team, Mark, and the other Mark and John and Seba, and everybody else!"