Coco Gauff's Chinese super fan named Hans is going the extra mile in Beijing

The famously passionate sports fans in China are once again serving up smiles to tennis' best players this week at the China Open. Mirra Andreeva said that packed courts made her feel "like family," Iga Swiatek was gobsmacked by the drawing talents of one who gave her a custom comic book, and Jessica Pegula said creative gifts make the Asian swing a personal point of pride each year.

But for defending champion Coco Gauff, one fan's commitment has risen above the rest.

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"There's a fan here named Hans," she said Monday after beating Belinda Bencic in the fourth round. "I think for me, he's the most touching fan that I've met here. He's always so kind and respectful."

"He's going to see this because he sees every interview of mine," she added. "He's so sweet. He's been here since the first day."

Gauff said that the unique gifts she's received from her local super-fan include CDs "because he knows I like to listen to physical forms of music," a *Love Island* poster, and a handwritten letter.

But he doesn't only just gift Gauff mementos.

He's also acted like a messenger of sorts for other fans who couldn't make it out to the China National Tennis Center, handing off other keepsakes for the world No. 3 to sign.

His charity has also impressed the two-time major champion.

"I think that's so nice, he's not only giving stuff for himself but for people that couldn't make it," she added.

Gauff won her second career WTA 1000-level title in the Chinese capital last summer, and has been one of the players most grateful for the outpouring of support she receives from the locals. Before the tournament, she told reporters that she's received "more gifts than I've gotten on Christmas in my entire life," including "a spoon and a fork set that had my face engraved on it and my name."

She added that she "packed light" to bring home her newest souvenirs, and challenged Beijing's tennis devotees to add another nickname to a growing collection of aliases.

Read more: Coco Gauff, aka "The Fruit Salad Queen," wants a new nickname from China Open fans

But Hans and company might need to up their game even further if the American makes recent China Open history. Three more wins in Beijing would make Gauff the first player in the two decades of the tournament to win back-to-back titles.