BEIJING — Coco Gauff’s route through Beijing now brings her across the net from a player living the first days of a breakthrough: 16-year-old Chinese junior world No. 1 Sun Xinran, who will meet the two-time major champion on Monday in her first WTA-level tournament.
Gauff, 22, has already travelled the path Sun is beginning. Seven years after emerging from qualifying to reach the Wimbledon fourth round — a run that opened with victory over her childhood idol Venus Williams — the American owns 12 WTA titles, including two majors.
A home-court surge earns Sun a Gauff test
- Sun opened her Beijing main-draw campaign on Thursday with a 6-1, 3-0 retirement win over Eva Lys under the lights on Capital Diamond Court.
- She followed it by beating Cristina Bucsa 6-4, 7-5, securing a second straight victory over an established tour opponent.
- The teenager will now take on Gauff, who advanced through her own second-round match on Saturday.
Sun arrived in Beijing shortly after winning the US Open girls’ title, and the home event is her first appearance at WTA tour level. She said the opportunity to face Gauff, a player she has followed on television, carries special value.
“I’m very happy to get the chance to play Coco Gauff because she is a Grand Slam champion,” Sun said. “I have watched her matches on TV. This is a great opportunity that I earned myself. I will cherish it and try my best.”
The early attention and the size of the stage have brought nerves before Sun takes court, but she said those concerns fade once points begin. Against Bucsa, she stayed focused on the immediate task rather than the rankings gap between them.
“I was quite nervous before the match,” Sun said. “She was ranked higher, but I did not think too much about that. I focused point by point. Once I’m on court, I feel I’m not bad and that the gap is not so large.”
Sun said her wins have not surprised her. “I know my tennis and I believe I can do these things,” she said. “I’m not inferior to other players.”
Gauff sees a familiar first-tour freedom
Gauff said Sun’s junior success and first steps on the professional circuit make her a dangerous opponent, particularly with the Chinese player competing freely in front of a home crowd.
“She is really promising,” Gauff said. “At 16, winning a junior Slam and getting to compete in what is probably the biggest tournament of her career so far, I know she will play great tennis against me. I have been in that position.”
For Gauff, a player’s debut year at tour level can be the least complicated period. Every opponent is unfamiliar, there are no previous seasons’ results to defend, and expectations have not yet hardened around results.
“At that age, everything is new and fresh,” Gauff said. “I don’t think people will put much pressure on her. They just want to see her win.”
The American’s advice concerns what comes after the first rush of results. Gauff said young players moving from a junior career full of victories must allow room for setbacks as the weekly standard rises.
“In your second year on tour, try not to hold on to the same expectations,” Gauff said. “She will be 17 in her second year. Remember that you are 17 years old — you will fail and you will succeed. When you come from juniors and are used to winning, losing can sometimes be difficult. It is really cool that she is continuing to have a good tournament.”
