An intriguing China Open has come to a close in Beijing, with the penultimate WTA 1000 event of 2024 done and dusted.

Coco Gauff was the last woman standing in the Chinese capital, with the fourth seed downing Karolina Muchova in a one-sided final to lift the eighth title of her career.

However, there are plenty of stories to assess outside of Gauff and Muchova, with some key narratives emerging across the past two weeks.

With the dust beginning to settle, we look at the winners and losers from the China Open women’s singles event.

Big Winners

Coco Gauff: A resurgent week for Gauff, who will be back up to world No 4 on Monday. The American has now won two WTA 1000 titles and could be primed to finish the season on a high under new coach Matt Daly.

Karolina Muchova: It was a disappointing final for Muchova, but this week was a huge positive step in the right direction in her quest to remain consistently towards the top of the game. The Czech is closing in on the top 30 as she continues her impressive injury comeback.

Paula Badosa: Another player on a resurgent run is Badosa, who will be back in the top 15 on Monday after reaching the last four in Beijing. The Spaniard’s nightmare injury spell is beginning to feel like a thing of the past.

Zhang Shuai: After a historic 24-match losing streak, home favourite Shuai set the tournament alight with her epic run to the quarter-finals. One of the best stories of the 2024 season.

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Big Losers

Aryna Sabalenka: Sabalenka was the heavy favourite coming in and had a chance to significantly close the gap on world No 1 Iga Swiatek, only to lose from a break up in the decider against Muchova. A big missed opportunity for the world No 2.

Jessica Pegula: Pegula had an incredible summer on the hard courts but was completely dismantled by Badosa in the fourth round. Let’s see if she can bounce back in Wuhan.

Emma Navarro: A stunning loss to world No 595 Shuai in the second round stalled a stellar 2024 rise for Navarro, who is now facing a battle to seal the seventh and final automatic WTA Finals spot. A far from ideal result for the world No 8.

Winner…and Loser?

Zheng Qinwen: Chinese No 1 Qinwen starred in her homecoming tournament by reaching the last four, though things came to an end in a dramatic semi-final loss to Muchova. She now finds herself still chasing a WTA Finals spot.

Jasmine Paolini: Paolini’s landmark season continued with a doubles victory alongside Sara Errani, though she was thrashed by Magda Linette in the third round of the singles event. The Italian’s form has stalled slightly since Wimbledon.

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