Coco Gauff’s unstoppable momentum has carried her to an eighth consecutive victory, defeating Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-1 in just 61 minutes in the round of 16 at the Wuhan Open. This latest win comes hot on the heels of her recent China Open title and has pushed her back up to No. 3 in the WTA Rankings. At 20, Gauff has now become the youngest player to reach 70 WTA 1000 wins, joining an elite group that includes Caroline Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka, and Iga Swiatek, all of whom achieved this feat before turning 23.
Despite playing numerous matches in quick succession, Gauff has shown remarkable endurance. “Every match I’m just trying to push through,” she said. “It’s been a lot of matches in a really short amount of time… but I’m really happy with how I played today.”
With Jessica Pegula’s loss to Wang Xinyu in Wuhan, Gauff’s ranking leap puts her just behind Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka. While she won’t be able to surpass them this season, her new position marks a significant milestone as she heads into the year’s WTA Finals in Riyadh.
Much of Gauff’s success can be attributed to her recent partnership with coach Matt Daly, who joined her team just before the Asian swing. Daly has reportedly brought expertise in grip technique and tactical adjustments, which seem to be paying dividends for Gauff. “He does really good at tactical stuff, mental side, too,” she said. “We’re changing stuff.”
Gauff, now a two-time WTA 1000 titleholder, has set her sights on extending her streak to nine when she faces Magda Linette in the quarter-finals. Her upward trajectory highlights a year of growth, resilience, and determination, and her recent accomplishments have solidified her status as a force on the WTA Tour.
