“Congratulations @carlitosalcarazz amazing comeback!! We ran back Beijing,” Coco Gauff had cheered months ago after Carlos Alcaraz defended his French Open crown against Jannik Sinner, while she herself claimed the title on Parisian clay for the first time. Yet one might wonder, how did Beijing factor into Paris? The answer lies in last year’s China Open, where both stars won on the China Open. But tennis stories rarely stay confined to the court. In China, a land steeped in heritage, Coco now playfully teases Alcaraz for his off-court blunder at last year’s tournament, proving that rivalries, and humor, travel with them.
At the pre-match press conference ahead of this year’s China Open, Coco Gauff was asked about her remark that most of her memories from last year’s trip were “more off court.” With many people never having visited Beijing, the question focused on what had left such a strong impression on her. Coco smiled and reflected, “Well, the first thing was the Great Wall. I thought that was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen in person. Especially when you look at how long ago it was built. So that was really cool.”
She went on to share another highlight of her Beijing experience, her visit to the Forbidden City. Still smiling, she admitted, “The Forbidden City, I would like to do it again, the full experience. I only did it, like, 25 minutes with Carlos. He came late, so it got cut short. I didn’t do it that much.” Coco’s words conveyed both her playful jab at Carlos Alcaraz and her genuine curiosity to explore more of China’s rich heritage.
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Coco also reflected on the cultural contrast she experienced. “I think the culture is really cool and very different from anything. Being from a country like the U.S., which is considered way younger than China,” she explained. She added, “I think visiting a country with so much history behind it is really cool, just learning about the different dynasties, how everything is kind of intertwined, which we don’t really have that in the U.S. because it is so much a melting pot, whereas here it’s not so. I think it’s really cool just to do a deep dive.”
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Wrapping up her thoughts, Coco encouraged others to explore Beijing beyond the tennis courts. “I would say if you’re interested, really try duck here, it’s really good, and go to the Forbidden City and some of the temples. I’m not a Beijing expert, but I had a great time and I definitely recommend people to try,” she said. Her enthusiasm painted a vivid picture of discovery, blending playful storytelling with a deep appreciation for China’s historical and cultural treasures.
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