Coco Gauff to make WTA Tour return in Beijing, confirms Zhengzhou entry
US Open champion Coco Gauff is set to return to WTA Tour action in Beijing next week and has also accepted a wildcard into the WTA 500 event in Zhengzhou which follows.
Gauff has not played since winning her maiden Grand Slam in New York earlier this month.
The teenager will fold into a strong field for the WTA 500 event in Zhengzhou, which already features reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, Elena Rybakina, Ons Jabeur, and Maria Sakkari.
“It’s been a huge summer for me and I’m excited to build on my US Open win and put in a really big finish to what’s been an amazing year,” Gauff said.
“We always love playing in front of the Chinese fans so I’m really looking forward to that.”
Gauff has been backed to have an incredible career after her breakthrough win in New York.
Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli is among her admirers.
When asked what Gauff could achieve the game in a recent podcast appearance, Bartoli said that the sky was the limit for the youngster whom she feels is set to follow in the footsteps of Serena Williams.
“Multiple Grand Slam winner and number one in the world, absolutely without a doubt,” said Bartoli.
“She’s so driven and she wants that so much.
“I think there’s just a fairytale story.
“It looks so much like walking in the footsteps of Serena – of course it’s a big gap between winning one and winning 23, but I just think she has a complete package. She thinks like a 30-year-old even though she’s 19. The physicality and the fitness are just incredible.”
Bartoli was most impressed with Gauff’s ability to dig deep and get a result when she wasn’t playing her best tennis.
“She was struggling big time, and the way for me she has been able to just handle all of that, finding solutions [impressed me],” Bartoli said.
“She didn’t play her best tennis, either, but still won a Slam. There are just so many positives. She’s definitely not a fluke.
“She’s gonna get on top of the game, absolutely.”
Gauff enters the Asian swing having won 18 of her past 19 matches thanks to her nearly flawless summer hard-court season, which saw her win three titles in Washington DC, Cincinnati, and the US Open.
Gauff will finally play again next week at the China Open in Beijing. The 19-year-old champion will compete in her first competition following her victory in New York when she competes in Beijing.
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