Coco Gauff began her campaign in the Beijing Open with a challenging victory against Camila Osorio, winning 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-2 on Saturday. This match was pivotal for Gauff, as she aims to extend her streak of at least reaching the semifinals at this tournament, a feat she has accomplished for the past three years.
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Osorio broke Gauff's serve five times and narrowly lost in total points, highlighting the competitive nature of the match. Gauff displayed visible frustration throughout, especially after allowing a 5-2 lead in the first set to slip into a tiebreak.
Historically, Gauff has won her opening matches in Beijing in straight sets. Following this round, she will compete against the winner of the match between Cristina Bucsa and China's junior No. 1 Sun Xinran. Gauff has won seven of her eight opening matches at WTA 1000 events this season, her only loss coming against Elisabetta Cocciaretto in Doha.
Reflecting on her performance, Gauff emphasized the importance of resetting her mindset prior to the third set, acknowledging Osorio's ability to provoke frustration. This match was Gauff's first since her run to the semifinals at the US Open, and she noted that it served as a good transition back into competition as the season winds down.
"This time of the year, it's really a final push, and I think today was a good match to start the Asian Swing," Gauff stated.
China has been a successful venue for Gauff, marking her 23rd win at a WTA event in the country. Her 88.4% win rate in China (23-3 record) is the highest of any player this century, with notable previous victories including her title in Beijing two years ago and in Wuhan in 2025.
Ahead of the tournament, Gauff expressed that she feels more relaxed now that the Grand Slams are concluded. She is focusing on maximizing her performance in the remaining matches to secure a strong finish to the season.