Coco Gauff has enjoyed a period of good form following her mixed start to the 2026 season.
The American failed to impress in Melbourne and Doha at the start of this year, losing to Elina Svitolina in the Australian Open quarter-finals and Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the Qatar Open second round.
She was then forced to withdraw from her third round match in Indian Wells due to injury.
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However, Gauff’s form 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, where she is the clear favourite after receiving a positive draw.
Coco Gauff receives a favourable Stuttgart Open draw
Coco Gauff will certainly fancy her chances of winning the Stuttgart Open after analysing her route to the title.
The American, who has received a first-round bye, will play Antonia Ruzic or Liudmilla Samsonova in the second round.
Ruzic is ranked outside the world’s top 50 players, while Samsonova is on a six-match losing streak – dating back to the Abu Dhabi Open in February.
If Gauff advances to the quarter-finals, she will most likely play world number 12 Karolina Muchova.
Muchova has been in fantastic form at the start of this year, winning the Qatar Open and reaching the Miami Open semi-finals.
However, Gauff holds a dominant record over the Czech player.
Gauff has won all six of their matches, dating back to the 2023 Cincinnati Open.
Moreover, Gauff comfortably defeated Muchova 6-1, 6-1 in their last 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 becomes more difficult at the semi-finals stage.
She could play Elina Svitolina, whom the American has lost to twice this year.
Coco Gauff’s Stuttgart Open debut
Gauff made her first appearance at the Stuttgart Open in 2022.
The American, who was unseeded at the event, lost her opening match to Australia’s Daria Kasatkina, 4-6, 2-6.
A year later, Gauff secured her first victory at the event, beating Veronika Kudermetova in her opening match.
However, the fifth-seeded American was then defeated by Anastasia Potapova.
In fact, Gauff has failed to win more than one consecutive match at the Stuttgart Open.
In the last two years, Gauff has twice won her opening match before losing in the quarter-finals.
Last year, Gauff was defeated by Jasmine Paolini, 4-6, 3-6.
After beating Gauff, Paolini said: “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.”
