The US Open wasn’t a home slam this season for two-time major queen Coco Gauff. Naomi Osaka shattered the former world No. 2 in her fourth-round loss. “After the match I was really disappointed. Kind of broke down to my team,” she told while trying to resist her emotions. It was tough for the 21-year-old to cope with this setback. But thankfully, she had someone to keep her intact in those low moments.

Her boyfriend and artist, Jalen Sera, has been in a “first real relationship,” according to Gauff, for two years. As the next tennis event awaits Gauff in Beijing, she just unveiled a montage of surreal, breathtaking moments spent with Sera this summer – a good old vacation to energize herself before it all starts to kick in.

On September 24, Gauff took to her Instagram to share a compilation post featuring all the best pictures she took while exploring different places this summer with partner Sera. Stunning in her fresh look, with a long ponytail in certain pictures, she wrote, “Lost summer files: sunset chaser edition,” while describing her blissful time. But one thing remained constant throughout the post: Gauff’s obsession with picturesque sunset moments while getting cozy and romantic with Sera.

Gauff also expressed her love for sunsets in one of her stories, describing one picture from her post as the “prettiest sunset I have ever seen, no filter.” She simply wrote while sharing her true feelings. Seeing the youngster enjoying candid, calm moments with Sera melts your heart. Considering she won’t have free time in the coming weeks, the schedule is going to be packed once again as the American star gears up for her comeback.

She posted pictures of a blue drink, which looked like a Blue Curaçao Mojito, some delicious steamed Baos, more sunset pictures, snaps of Gauff flaunting her style, and what looked like a good old pepperoni pizza. There was also a picture of the famous Eiffel Tower shining bright under the Paris lights, and various photos of relaxing in nature. With her vacation done and dusted, the focus shifts to Beijing.

Beijing is going to be her first stop after that heartbreaking US Open campaign. Seems like the defeat is still doing rounds in her mind. Why so? Despite being the defending champion at the upcoming WTA 500 tournament, Gauff is hardly exuding confidence.

Coco Gauff shares honest thoughts on China Open

For the uninitiated, Coco Gauff is the reigning queen in Beijing. Last season, she won the trophy after besting Karolina Muchova in the summit clash with a score line of 6-1, 6-3. This time, however, the feeling of being a champion is gone as she only looks to deliver a stable performance. During the pre-event press conference, dated September 22, she revealed, “I don’t know why, it just feels different at the end of the year. Although technically I’m defending champion, but it doesn’t feel like that at all.”

Explaining her point, the World No.3 added, “I don’t want to say ‘not care’ because obviously I’m not playing a tournament and trying to lose or anything. But yeah, there is definitely a weight that you kind of just don’t care in a way, especially when you’ve had like a good moment of the season.”

While she did win a slam this season, in Paris, her journey after that historic victory has been forgettable. At Wimbledon, Gauff lost in the first round against Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska. In Montreal, teenage sensation Victoria Mboko bested her in the fourth round before Jasmine Paolini ousted her in the QF stage at the Cincinnati Open. And ultimately, as we know, she failed to wrap the season with a second major title in 2025 at Flushing Meadows.

Now going into the China Open, she is keeping her expectations low. “I don’t know how I feel right now. I feel definitely a lot lighter. It feels, again, like a practice tournament. So we’ll see how it goes.” The tennis gods are not on her side for the time being. But if anyone can turn their fortunes around, it’s Gauff.