Coco Gauff loses in Berlin in first match since French Open title, turns attention to Wimbledon
Coco Gauff of the United States reacts as she plays China's Xinyu Wang during the Berlin WTA tennis tournament in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (Hannes P. Albert/dpa via AP)
BERLIN (AP) — Newly crowned French Open champion Coco Gauff was stunned on her return to action Thursday, losing to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu 6-3, 6-3 at the Berlin Open.
Coco Gauff of the United States returns the ball to China's Xinyu Wang during the Berlin WTA tennis tournament in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (Hannes P. Albert/dpa via AP)
The second-ranked Gauff, who won at Roland-Garros less than two weeks ago for her second Grand Slam title, amassed 25 unforced errors and seven double faults in her loss to Wang.
“It was a tough one today but happy to be back on court,” Gauff wrote on her social media accounts. “Tried my best to adjust with the quick turnaround but it wasn’t enough. As always, I'm learning as I go so I hope to do better next time.”
Coco Gauff of the United States on he grass after falling as she plays China's Xinyu Wang during the Berlin WTA tennis tournament in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (Hannes P. Albert/dpa via AP)
The 21-year-old Gauff added that she is “excited to get some more practices in to be ready for Wimbledon," which starts June 30. She has not made it past the fourth round at the All England Club.
Wang, ranked No. 49, said she would have been pleased just with the first set Thursday, considering the level of her opponent.
China's Xinyu Wang plays a return to Coco Gauff of the United States during the Berlin WTA tennis tournament in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (Hannes P. Albert/dpa via AP)
“After I won the first set, I just told myself ‘OK let’s take a minute and enjoy this, I'm playing the French Open champion, and I won the first set,'” she said in her on-court interview.
Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka takes a selfie after playing Switzerland's Rebeka Masarova during the Berlin WTA tennis tournament in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (Hannes P. Albert/dpa via AP)
“No matter how the second and third go, I was like, 'OK let's just enjoy it for a second,'" said Wang, who will face Paula Badosa in the quarterfinals. "I'm really happy with how I played today. I was serving good and putting a lot of pressure on the return, especially second-serve return.”
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka finished off Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-6 (6) in a match that was suspended Wednesday after one set because of a slippery court.
Sabalenka had lost to Gauff at the French Open final and later apologized to the American for making “unprofessional” comments after the Paris title match.
Sabalenka will meet 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals.
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