Coco Gauff is already warming up in WTA Beijing 2025. The American player convincingly defeated Kamila Rakhimova in her debut (6-4 6-0) and will fight for a spot in the round of 16 against Leylah Fernandez, who is ranked 25th in the world. Gauff is defending her title in this tournament, but that doesn't add any pressure for her. Her goal is to stay among the top female tennis players in the world by the end of 2025.
The year for Coco Gauff has been somewhat inconsistent. She claimed the title at Roland Garros after an outstanding clay court season but didn't achieve the expected results at Wimbledon (first round) or the US Open (round of 16). Nevertheless, she enters the Asian tour with hopes of displaying the form she showed at the end of the 2024 season. After her first match in WTA Beijing 2025, Gauff attended a press conference.

- Elite players putting pressure on Grand Slams
"It has been a very long process. We have a player representative who I want to speak out on our behalf because I couldn't attend the meetings due to training commitments. I was informed about it and don't have much information, only that this started at Indian Wells and I signed the letter along with the other top 10 players. The objective is to increase the prize money for players at Grand Slams, not just for us but also for players ranked in the top 200 or 300. We are trying to leverage the fact that top-ranked players have more influence, and unfortunately, we are being heard to some extent."
- Return to China
"I feel less pressure when playing as the defending champion, for some reason. I don't know if it's because there are no more Grand Slams in the year or because I am almost qualified for the WTA Finals, but something about that reduces the pressure. When you play well at a venue, you have a lot of confidence. I know I play well here, and I feel confident when faced with the same conditions as last year."
- U.S. loss in the Billie Jean King Cup final
"I couldn't watch the final because I was on a plane, but I had a lot of confidence in the team. They did very well, but Cocciaretto and Paolini excel when playing in such supportive environments like a team competition. I felt we had a good chance, and it was a pity how it ended. Now, I just hope we qualify again for the finals because I will probably play next year."
- About the first-round match
"I expected a tough match since it was my first one since the US Open. She is a great player and has been performing well in recent tournaments, but I found my rhythm and capitalized on it. Initially, I was a bit tense, but I managed to loosen up, and I think it showed in the second set score. I'm also very pleased with my Chinese fans, who always treat me well and give me gifts that I will cherish forever."
本新闻为自动翻译。您可以阅读原始新闻:Gauff apunta alto en la gira asiática: "Siento menos presión cuando juego como campeona defensora"

