Coco Gauff has loved a interval of excellent kind following her combined begin to the 2026 season.
The American failed to impress in Melbourne and Doha at the begin of this yr, losing to Elina Svitolina in the Australian Open quarter-finals and Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the Qatar Open second spherical.
She was then compelled to withdraw from her third spherical match in Indian Wells due to damage.
Is Coco Gauff the third-best participant on the WTA Tour?
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However, Gauff’s kind has since improved, as demonstrated by her run to the Miami Open final.
The 21-year-old is now set to compete in the Stuttgart Open, the place she is the clear favourite after receiving a constructive draw.
Coco Gauff receives a favourable Stuttgart Open draw
Coco Gauff will definitely fancy her possibilities of profitable the Stuttgart Open after analysing her route to the title.
The American, who has obtained a first-round bye, will play Antonia Ruzic or Liudmilla Samsonova in the second spherical.
Ruzic is ranked outdoors the world’s prime 50 gamers, whereas Samsonova is on a six-match dropping streak – courting again to the Abu Dhabi Open in February.
If Gauff advances to the quarter-finals, she’s going to more than likely play world quantity 12 Karolina Muchova.
Muchova has been in implausible kind at the begin of this yr, profitable the Qatar Open and reaching the Miami Open semi-finals.
However, Gauff holds a dominant report over the Czech participant.
Gauff has received all six of their matches, courting again to the 2023 Cincinnati Open.
Moreover, Gauff comfortably defeated Muchova 6-1, 6-1 of their final matchup in the Miami Open semi-finals.
Coco Gauff’s projected Stuttgart Open draw
- First Round: Bye
- Second Round: Ruzic / Samsonova
- Quarter-finals: Karolina Muchova
- Semi-finals: Elina Svitolina
- Final: Elena Rybakina
Of course, Gauff’s projected draw turns into harder at the semi-finals stage.
She might play Elina Svitolina, whom the American has misplaced to twice this yr.
Coco Gauff’s Stuttgart Open debut
Gauff made her first look at the Stuttgart Open in 2022.
The American, who was unseeded at the occasion, misplaced her opening match to Australia’s Daria Kasatkina, 4-6, 2-6.
A yr later, Gauff secured her first victory at the occasion, beating Veronika Kudermetova in her opening match.
However, the fifth-seeded American was then defeated by Anastasia Potapova.
In reality, Gauff has failed to win a couple of consecutive match at the Stuttgart Open.
In the final two years, Gauff has twice received her opening match earlier than dropping in the quarter-finals.
Last yr, Gauff was defeated by Jasmine Paolini, 4-6, 3-6.
After beating Gauff, Paolini mentioned: “I think I played aggressive, and I was so consistent, not too many mistakes. I think I did a great match at the end.
“When I step on court, like hitting the ball strong, it’s what makes me enjoy playing tennis, you know. I like to kind of hit the ball so hard. So that made me feel joy.”
