WTA China Open: Tricky Scenes for Coco Gauff as Naomi Osaka and Anna Kalinskaya Attempt to Derail Her Title

After the highs of the 2023 season where she won the US Open, nothing seems to be going the way of Coco Gauff. Amid a poor run of form, she ended her partnership with legendary coach, Brad Gilbert. Additionally, she failed to defend her US Open crown, losing in the pre-quarterfinals. What is surprising to note is that Coco Gauff has managed to win just a solitary singles title this year, which clearly doesn’t reflect the tremendous potential she boasts. As if things were going bad for her, it has been made worse with the announcement of the WTA China Open draw.

The American sensation will be seen in action at the China Open later this week. She is seeded fourth in the tournament and has been handed a nightmarish draw that will significantly affect her title chances. Handed a bye in the opening round, she will potentially face her compatriot Caroline Dolehide in the second round. However, her real test starts in the third round, with the likes of Katie Boulter and Taylor Townsend lurking.

Subsequently, Coco Gauff could potentially square off against Naomi Osaka in the fourth round, followed by the likes of Jelena Ostapenko and Anna Kalinskaya in the quarterfinals. Last year, she reached the semifinals here but the path looks tougher for her this time around.

This is a developing story…