American tennis star Coco Gauff was eliminated from the Berlin grass court tournament on Wednesday, falling to Spain’s Paula Badosa in a three-set match, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2. The defeat marks a challenging start to the grass court season for the world number seven, occurring less than two weeks before the start of Wimbledon.
According to AFP, Gauff dominated the opening set but lost momentum as the match progressed. Statistics indicated a decline in her first-serve percentage throughout the encounter. Badosa, currently ranked 142nd and competing as a wildcard entry, secured two breaks in both the second and third sets to close the match in one hour and 36 minutes. This victory ends a five-match losing streak for the Spaniard, who had not won since April.
Gauff, the 2025 Roland Garros champion, now faces pressure to recalibrate her game on grass surfaces. Following the match, the focus in Berlin shifts to the next round, where Badosa is scheduled to face her doubles partner, Jessica Pegula. Pegula advanced after a straight-sets victory over Katerina Siniakova.