coco gauff

 CHINA:

World number four Coco Gauff said Tuesday that everyone should accept the roller-coaster nature of tennis, as she responded to criticism of her results this season.

Guff claimed what she described as an "unexpected" title at the China Open in Beijing last week and is on the cusp of securing her qualification for the season-ending WTA Finals for a third consecutive year.

Despite reaching two Grand Slam semi-finals and winning two titles this year, the 20-year-old Gauff has been under scrutiny, especially after her unsuccessful US Open defence last month.

"People don't realise people have great moments in sports and bad moments," Gauff told reporters at the Wuhan Open, where she faces Viktoriya Tomova in the second round on Wednesday.

"It doesn't mean anything. I took inspiration from A'ja Wilson," she said, referring to the Las Vegas Aces back-to-back basketball WNBA champion.