Can Coco Gauff qualify for the WTA Finals with a title win at the China Open 2024 to boost her confidence?
World No. 6 Coco Gauff has reached the quarterfinals of the 2024 China Open. She moved past Naomi Osaka in the previous round after the Japanese was forced to retire mid-match due to a back injury.
Gauff is three wins away from clinching her second title on tour this year. She reached the semifinals of the 2023 China Open and will be hoping to go one step further this time around.
The American made a flawless start to the season by defending her title in Auckland and reached the Australian Open and French Open semifinals. She also reached the fourth round of the Wimbledon Championships and the US Open but came up shy against Emma Navarro at both Majors.
With all to play for in the final phase of the season, the 20-year-old will be determined to add more trophies to her locker. She is also expected to qualify for the WTA Finals in Riyadh but still needs 1500 points to secure her place among the top eight. Let's analyze Coco Gauff's chances of winning the China Open and earning valuable points in the Race to Riyadh.
Gauff is among the six seeded players remaining in the China Open. While second seed Jessica Pegula was eliminated by Paula Badosa, third seed Jasmine Paolini was shown the exit door by Magda Linette. The Pole outclassed Paolini in straight sets in the third round, 6-4, 6-0.
Among the top contenders remaining, Aryna Sabalenka will take on Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals and Zheng Qinwen will lock horns with Amanda Anisimova in the fourth round. Gauff, meanwhile will battle it against Yulia Starodubtsewa in the last eight.
The 24-year-old, Starodubtsewa, has been inspirational in the China Open. She entered the main draw via the qualifiers and brushed aside Laura Siegemund, Katerina Siniakova, Elina Avanesyan, and Anna Kanliskaya en route to the quarterfinals. She is yet to drop a set in Beijing and is enjoying one of the best runs of her career so far.
Coco Gauff and Starodubtsewa have never faced each other on tour. However, the American will fancy her chances against the inexperienced Ukranian in the next round. She will take on Paula Badosa or Zhang Shuai if she progresses to the semifinals. Her most likely opponent in the finals could be Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed in Beijing.
Guaff has already amassed 215 points in the WTA rankings after reaching the last eight of the China Open. She could improve further depending on her results in the next few matches.
Aryna Sabalenka is the bookies favorite to win the China Open, followed by Coco Gauff and Paula Badosa
World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka is the top favorite to win the 2024 China Open. She is making her fourth appearance at the event and is through to the quarterfinals with a commanding win over Madison Keys in the fourth round.
Sabalenka is unbeaten in her last 15 matches on tour and entered Beijing on the back of a maiden title triumph in the US Open. She defeated Elise Mertens, Zheng Qinwen, and Emma Navarro en route to the finals and then outmuscled Jessica Pegula to lift the title. A $100 wager on Sabalenka may fetch $160 plus the initial investment. The top seed is yet to drop a set in Beijing.
Coco Gauff, meanwhile, is the second favorite to win the China Open. A 100$ wager on the American is expected to fetch $400 plus the initial investment. She has not won a title since January and will be sensing the possibility in Beijing.
Third on the list is Paula Badosa, who stunned Jessica Pegula in the fourth round. The Spaniard has been raising her level for the past few months and is one of the dark horses in the China Open this year. A $100 wager on Badosa may fetch at least $550 plus the initial investment.
The women's singles draw action resumes on October 2 as the remaining crop battles for a place in the semifinals. Gauff will take on Yulia Starodubtsewa on Thursday, October 3.