'Queen of Noodles' Coco Gauff keeping same culinary routine at China Open

The season's longest WTA winning streak has been powered, in part, by Chinese food.

After a 6-4, 6-2 win over Maria Sakkari in Friday's quarterfinals, US Open champion Coco Gauff revealed that she's gotten into a comfortable routine with some of Beijing's culinary delights: namely, fried noodles and dumplings.

"I've been eating noodles every day!" she said, and later, in her post-match press conference, Gauff revealed just how much she's been embracing local culture in her first visit to China.

"In the morning, I eat fried noodles every day," Gauff said. "That's what I have for breakfast, fried noodles, dumplings and some fruit, and usually a treat with Nutella. I don't know if it's the healthiest breakfast. It's what we're doing this week and it's working."

And her post-match meal of choice? "I always get the soup noodles. I like to put sesame oil, chili oil, a little bit of vinegar and some onions and stuff."

"It feels like a warm hug," she added.

But Gauff's culinary journey in Beijing hasn't been a solo one. After sampling tea with her mom, Candi, ahead of the tournament, Gauff said that her team has also been enjoying the local culinary delights.

"I feel like the people in China in general live very long, and I told my team, I was like, I have to eat this every day. If you eat this every day, you'll live a long time," she said.

"I don't know. When you eat something and it just feels like it automatically heals you, that's what I feel like. It's so weird. But I've been eating it every day. I think that's why I've been playing so good."

But the food isn't the only thing that has received rave reviews from the US Open champion in her first-time tour through China, as the WTA has returned to the region for its traditional Asian swing for the first time since 2019.

"I feel like a lot of players at the end of the season were saying the sort of part of the swing was tough just because it's the end of the season and it's far for most of us," she said.

"Honestly, I've been enjoying my time a lot here. The people. Hospitality has been really nice. The facilities are really nice. Hotel is nice. Food, I like Chinese food so I have no complaints.

"I think when you come in with a little bit, like, less expectations, and also result-wise I had no expectations for myself, when you come in less and do better than what you expected to do, it just makes you feel better."

Gauff's four wins this week has extended her career-best winning streak to 16 matches. She'll next face Iga Swiatek in the semifinals in a rematch of their match in Cincinnati in the same round. That was Gauff's fourth win in her current streak, and first against Swiatek.