Coco Gauff bought her 2026 clay-court season up and operating with a powerful victory over Liudmila Samsonova to succeed in the quarterfinals on the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
The 22-year-old American, final yr’s Roland-Garros champion, improves to 19-3 on clay for the reason that begin of 2025. Her solely losses in that span got here to Jasmine Paolini (Stuttgart quarterfinals and Rome last in 2025) and Aryna Sabalenka (Madrid last in 2025).
On Thursday, Gauff needed to rally from 3-0 down within the opening set after being damaged in her first two service video games and failing to transform early break alternatives. She shortly turned the momentum with back-to-back breaks to stage at 3-all, however needed to battle again from a break down as soon as extra—profitable the ultimate three video games of the set to take management.
“I began off a bit bit tough, had some break level alternatives within the first recreation, however pleased to get by means of as we speak,” Gauff stated. “I’ve by no means actually had simple first-round matches right here in Stuttgart, so I assume the pattern continued a bit bit as we speak.”
Gauff, into her third consecutive quarterfinal in Stuttgart, received 13 of the ultimate 16 video games. She raced out to a 5-0 lead within the second set earlier than closing out the match in a single hour and 36 minutes.
The No. 3 seed improves to 17-6 on the season and can face Karolina Muchova—whom she has defeated in all six earlier conferences—in Friday’s quarterfinals.
Muchova superior with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory over Elise Mertens.
“I’m nonetheless getting used to the clay,” Gauff stated. “There are some choices I might have made otherwise, however the clay right here is completely different from Madrid and Rome—it’s very slippery, and it’s laborious to alter route on this floor.”
Walmart Model of The King
Throughout her post-match chat with Heinz Gunthardt, Gauff was requested who she modelled her recreation after on the clay. After hemming and hawing a bit, she stated she tries to hit her forehand like Rafa a bit, then clarified.
“Like a Walmart model of Rafa. I don’t need to be obliterated on-line. Like, a lesser model of Rafa, okay?”
Rybakina Rolls
Elena Rybakina, the 2026 Australian Open champion, additionally made a powerful begin to her clay marketing campaign, defeating Diana Shnaider, 6-3, 6-4, to succeed in the quarterfinals.
The highest seed and 2024 Stuttgart champion is now third on the WTA Tour in wins this season with 22. She is going to face both Zeynep Sonmez or Leylah Fernandez subsequent.
