Coco Gauff might have achieved a lot in her short tennis career, but she is aware that the greater part of it is still ahead of her.
The 20-year-old American prodigy won many trophies and important matches in her short career, but despite already competing on the WTA Tour for half a decade, Gauff ended her teenage years only in March of this year.
Her game, despite being capable of winning her trophies thanks to her tremendous talent, is still very inconsistent, especially her often-discussed forehand and serve, which can trouble her at times.
She's still developing as a player, finding her spots in the calendar, her favorite tournaments, and, most importantly, her game that can carry her to trophies week in and week out.
Despite all of that, she won the 2024 China Open, beating Karolina Muchova in the final in what was a truly dominant display from the 2023 US Open champion.
Speaking to the WTA Insider after her triumph in Beijing, the American player admitted that she didn't come into the Asian swing too motivated last year, as she was returning to the courts after winning her maiden major.
"I think last year, I won US Open and I was like, the rest of the season, I want to do well, but whatever -- just play and see what happens. And then this time it was like, well, I haven't done so well."
Gauff reached the semi-finals in Beijing in 2023, a result that she managed to improve this year, but she still thinks that since this part of the season is held after all Grand Slams, she will always approach it slightly differently than the part of the season when majors are held.
"The tournaments that I really wanted to do well in, the Slams, that was over. So it was kind of, let's just see what happens here. I always think that this part of the season will always just be more relaxed for me."
Despite entering the China Open 'relaxed,' Gauff managed to win it, and it was a very important victory for her. As she explained, it reassured her that what she was doing was right and that she was heading in the right direction.
"Everybody can do everything in practice. This time, when the pressure is on the line, I was just trying to force myself to do things I was uncomfortable with. So yeah, I think the result is now reassurance that I am in the right direction."
Although she stormed onto the WTA Tour at the age of 15, is a former doubles World No. 1, former singles World No. 2, a Grand Slam champion, and a two-time WTA 1000 winner, Gauff has an important reminder for her fans.
Her game is still developing, and she's aware that she's still in this stage of her tennis career and approaches it as such.
"A lot of times people forget that I'm still in the developmental phase of my career and nothing is going to be great. Most of the people doing well are 25 and older in the Top 10, maybe with the exception of Iga."
"We have a long way to go and I still have a lot that I need to work on and I'm proud of myself thus far. I didn't have a complete game at 15 and I don't have one right now, but I've been on tour playing every week almost, trying to be better. I'm just super proud of that."
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