Coco Gauff's return to the court after her French Open victory was met with an unexpected setback at the Berlin Open. The world No. 2 suffered a straight-sets defeat to China's Wang Xinyu, ranked No. 49, in the second round of the WTA 500 grass-court tournament. The loss marks a disappointing start to Gauff's grass-court season and raises questions as she prepares for Wimbledon.
Wang Xinyu, who had to qualify for the main draw, displayed impressive form throughout the match, securing a 6-3, 6-3 victory. This win marks a career-best for the 23-year-old, and her first grass court quarterfinal, while snapping Gauff's seven-match winning streak from Roland Garros. Wang's strong play was characterized by effective serving and capitalizing on crucial break points. She won four straight games to win the first set, and five in a row from 3-1 down in the second. In her post-match interview, Wang expressed her excitement and satisfaction with her performance, stating that she was happy with how she served and returned, putting pressure on Gauff's second serve.
Gauff, on the other hand, struggled to find her rhythm and consistency. Her first serve percentage was a mere 38%, landing only 22 of 58 first serves, and she committed seven double faults throughout the match. She also won just 53% of points on serve. Although she managed to secure an early break in the first set, she was unable to maintain the lead, and the match slipped away. Gauff had a bye in the first round, making this her first match on grass after her French Open title.
The defeat in Berlin is a significant setback for Gauff as she transitions from clay to grass. In a pre-tournament press conference, Gauff acknowledged that grass is not her best surface, but she is determined to improve each year. With Wimbledon just around the corner on June 30, this loss leaves Gauff with limited match play on grass and highlights areas needing improvement.
Despite the disappointing result, Gauff will look to regroup and refocus her efforts on preparing for Wimbledon. The young American has shown resilience throughout her career and will aim to learn from this experience as she seeks her first Wimbledon title. Wang Xinyu, meanwhile, will advance to the quarter-finals to face Paula Badosa.
