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Coco Gauff Survives Beijing Opener, Keeps Streak Alive — Melanin News | Melanin
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Coco Gauff Survives Beijing Opener, Keeps Streak AliveSports

Coco Gauff Survives Beijing Opener, Keeps Streak Alive

2w ago

Coco Gauff, the 22-year-old American tennis sensation, had to dig deep to secure her place in the third round of the China Open. On Saturday, October 3, 2026, Gauff faced off against Colombia's Camila Osorio at the China National Tennis Centre in Beijing, emerging victorious with a hard-fought 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-2 scoreline.

This match was Gauff's first competitive outing since her defeat to Elena Rybakina in the U.S. Open semifinals on September 11, 2026. That three-week hiatus reportedly impacted her rhythm, making the win against Osorio a crucial test of her resolve as she resumes play in the demanding Asian Swing.

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The contest was far from a dominant display for Gauff, described by some as a "4-point escape." Osorio, a Colombian professional tennis player born on December 22, 2001, finished with only four fewer total points than Gauff, indicating a match "decided by timing rather than dominance." Osorio managed to break Gauff's serve five times throughout the three sets, a statistic that typically spells defeat for most players at a WTA 1000 event. Gauff's serve has historically been a pressure point in her game, and the recent layoff appeared to highlight this vulnerability on court.

At 22 years old, Cori Dionne Gauff, born March 13, 2004, has already amassed an impressive career. She holds a career-high ranking of world No. 2 in singles and world No. 1 in doubles. As of July 13, 2026, she was ranked No. 4 in singles. Her trophy cabinet includes two major singles titles from the 2023 US Open and the 2025 French Open, along with the 2024 WTA Finals and four WTA 1000 events. Her recent U.S. Open semifinal loss was to Elena Rybakina, a Russian-born Kazakhstani player born on June 17, 1999, who went on to claim the 2026 US Open title and ascend to world No. 1 in singles on September 14, 2026.

Her opponent, María Camila Osorio Serrano, has also carved out a respectable career. Osorio achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 33 on April 4, 2022, and is currently ranked No. 66. She has three WTA Tour-level singles titles to her name, all won at the Copa Colsanitas in her home country of Colombia in 2021, 2024, and 2025. Her record against top-10 opponents in the 52 weeks leading up to this match stood at 0-2, underscoring the challenge she presented to Gauff.

China Open (tennis)
China Open (tennis) Source

Gauff herself reflected on the challenging nature of the encounter. "I think just the reset in the third," she stated. "Honestly, I don't know, there was a moment in the match I got really frustrated. I feel Camila is that type of player [who] can really frustrate you. I was able to rest for the third set, so just to be able to forget about the second set." She also acknowledged the importance of the match in her return to competition, remarking, "I think this time of the year, it's really a final push and I think today was a good match to start of the Asian Swing."

Social media reactions from the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) highlighted Gauff's fighting spirit. One post acknowledged, "All fight! Coco Gauff leaves it all on the court to defeat Osorio in a thrilling three set match." Another celebrated her advancement, stating, "GAUFF GOES THROUGH @CocoGauff takes the win in a hard fought match against Osorio to continue her run in Beijing!"

This victory was particularly crucial for Gauff as it maintained her impressive "3-year Beijing streak" of reaching at least the semifinals at the China Open. Gauff is the defending champion of the China Open, having won the title in 2024, and also reached the semifinals in both 2023 and 2025. Her consistent strong performance in China is notable, boasting an 88.4% win rate with a 23-3 record at WTA events in the region.

As Gauff continues her campaign in Beijing, this gritty win against Osorio sets the tone for her late-season push. Overcoming a tough opponent and shaking off the rust from a layoff demonstrates her championship mettle, a quality she will need as she aims to defend her title and maintain her strong record in the final stretch of the tennis calendar.