Coco Gauff Favored to Claim Stuttgart Open Title

The American star looks to build on recent strong form and make a deep run at the clay court tournament.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 1:26pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric planes in vibrant colors like cobalt blue, crimson red, and sunshine yellow, conceptually representing the dynamic and aggressive playing style of tennis player Coco Gauff.Coco Gauff's dynamic and aggressive playing style is deconstructed into a cubist masterpiece, capturing the energy and intensity of her pursuit of a Stuttgart Open title.Charleston Today

Coco Gauff has hit a good stretch of form following a mixed start to the 2026 season. The American came into the year looking to bounce back from an inconsistent finish to 2025, but struggled early on before reaching the finals in Miami and semifinals in Madrid. She heads into the Stuttgart Open as the favorite thanks to a favorable draw and her current ranking of third in the WTA.

Why it matters

Gauff's performance at the Stuttgart Open could be a key indicator of her chances at the upcoming French Open. A strong showing would build momentum and confidence as she looks to claim her first Grand Slam title on clay.

The details

After receiving a bye into the second round, Gauff's potential path to the title includes matches against lower-ranked opponents Antonia Ruzic and Liudmila Samsonova. If she reaches the quarterfinals, she could face world No. 12 Karolina Muchova, though Gauff has won all six of their previous meetings. Gauff first appeared at the Stuttgart Open in 2022, losing her opening match, before picking up her first win at the event in 2023 before being eliminated in the next round.

  • Coco Gauff first appeared at the Stuttgart Open in 2022.
  • In 2023, Gauff picked up her first win at the Stuttgart Open in the opening round.
  • This year, Gauff enters the Stuttgart Open as the favorite.

The players

Coco Gauff

A 22-year-old American tennis player currently ranked third in the WTA rankings, looking to build on recent strong form and claim her first title at the Stuttgart Open.

Karolina Muchova

A 26-year-old Czech tennis player currently ranked 12th in the world, who Gauff could potentially face in the quarterfinals after Muchova's strong start to the 2026 season.

Antonia Ruzic

A lower-ranked opponent that Gauff could face in the second round of the Stuttgart Open.

Liudmila Samsonova

A player Gauff could potentially face in the second round of the Stuttgart Open, currently on a six-match losing streak.

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What they’re saying

“Coco Gauff has good reason to be optimistic about her Stuttgart Open campaign after taking a look at the path she'll need to navigate.”

— Max Kilham, Author

What’s next

If Gauff reaches the semifinals or finals of the Stuttgart Open, it would further boost her confidence and momentum heading into the French Open, where she will look to capture her first Grand Slam title.

The takeaway

Coco Gauff's strong recent form and favorable draw at the Stuttgart Open make her the clear favorite to claim the title, which would be a significant boost as she aims to break through and win her first Grand Slam at the upcoming French Open.