World No. 3 Coco Gauff is preparing to play at the Madrid Open, a tournament where she reached the final last year but fell to Aryna Sabalenka. Gauff arrived in the Spanish capital early after suffering a shock exit at the Stuttgart Open to Karolina Muchova.
It’s safe to say the 22-year-old American has already regrouped from the disappointing loss in Stuttgart and is making the most of her short time off in Madrid by sightseeing and enjoying the vibrant Madrid night.
In her latest social media post, Gauff could be seen breaking a leg with close WTA friend Eva Lys as the duo rocked their party outfits for a fun-filled night out in the Spanish capital.
Gauff endured a thrilling end in the Sunshine swing as she reached her maiden WTA final of the year at the Miami Open, but yet again failed to get past Sabalenka and lost the match in three sets. Despite losing the summit clash, the signs were ripe for the American as she entered the clay swing, full of hope and a huge volume of ranking points to defend.
While her first clay event in Stuttgart didn’t go as planned, Gauff must immediately shift her focus to the two crucial WTA 1000 events in Madrid and Rome, which shall serve as the biggest warm-up tournaments before her Roland Garros title defense.
Coco Gauff Could Have Smooth Sailing Till the Semifinals of the Madrid Open
Gauff, like other top seeds, learned their potential path to the finals at the Madrid Open after the official draw announcement. The two-time Grand Slam champion commences her journey in the Round of 64 against the winner of Oksana Selekhmeteva and a qualifier.
She could then potentially face Sorana Cirstea in R3 and either Liudmila Samsonova or Linda Noskova in the round of 16. Should she continue her run, Gauff could lock horns with fellow American and reigning Charleston Open champion Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals before the big guns come calling.
A potential semifinal clash against Elena Rybakina could be on the cards, and should the American reach the summit clash for a second year running, she could face any of the top seeds from the other half, including Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Mirra Andreeva, or Elina Svitolina. It will be interesting to see the American’s approach in the first week of the tournament.
Also read:
Coco Gauff’s Madrid Open 2026 Bracket Revealed: Path To Final & Potential Big Opponents
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