"Rough day but the grind doesn't stop" - Coco Gauff arrives in Beijing, begins preparation for first tournament as US Open champ

Coco Gauff recently posted a few short videos of herself practicing in Beijing for the 2023 China Open. This will be her first tournament since being crowned the US Open champion.

Gauff went on an absolute tear during the North American hardcourt swing, which ended earlier this month. After winning her fourth WTA title in Washington, the 19-year-old proceeded to win her first-ever WTA 1000 title in Cincinnati.

She then overcame some tough matches in the first week of the 2023 US Open before eventually clinching her maiden Major by beating Aryna Sabalenka in the final.

The American teen will next play at the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing, which begins on Saturday (September 30). She has already set foot in the Chinese capital, going by her Instagram stories.

Coco Gauff admitted she was suffering from jet lag, but in the same breath asserted that such issues wouldn't come in the way of her preparations.

"Heyyy... Post 30 hour travel day practice. Rough travel day but the grind doesn't stop," she wrote.

A screen capture of the 2023 US Open champion's Instagram story

A screen capture of the 2023 US Open champion's Instagram story

In the said video, the reigning US Open champion was seen trading hits with her team members at the National Tennis Center, which is the venue for the China Open.

Looking back at how Coco Gauff won the 2023 US Open

Coco Gauff poses with the 2023 US Open trophy

Coco Gauff showed resilience and maturity beyond her years during this year's US Open.

The American's campaign in Flushing Meadows had a rather rocky start, as she was taken to three sets by Caroline Wozniacki, Elise Mertens and Laura Siegemund. But she got better from there on, blitzing past Jelena Ostapenko and Karolina Muchova to reach the final.

In the summit clash, she was dominated by the second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka in the first set. Coco Gauff, however, refused to go down quietly and soon began wearing Sabalenka down with her defensive skills.

The American staved off multiple break points in the first game of the second set, before eventually taking it 6-3. She then stepped on the gas to break the Belarusian twice to take a 4-0 lead in the deciding set.

Even though she was broken back at 4-1, Gauff maintained her composure to break again before serving out a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory.