Coco Gauff lost to Elise Mertens, 3-6, 3-6, in the fourth round of the China Open.
The American star was nowhere near her best on Wednesday, October 7, delivering one of her most disappointing performances of the season. Gauff lost to Mertens for the first time, having won their first five career meetings.
Gauff looked out of sorts throughout and didn’t show the energy and physical prowess that helped her win two Grand Slam titles. Still downbeat after the match, the 22-year-old shared her thoughts during her press conference.
Coco Gauff admits there were a lot of things she didn’t do well in China Open defeat to Elise Mertens
“I think I just didn’t play well. I think I wasn’t moving well. There were a lot of things I didn’t do well. I thought Elise [Mertens] played well on the big points, made me play a big ball, yeah,” said Gauff.
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She was then asked to sum up her China Open campaign, and Gauff also commented on the abuse she received after her third-round match, when she requested a video review against 16-year-old Sun Xinran.
“I mean, obviously, a bit disappointing, the result today. I had two good matches. Yeah, I mean, I always enjoy playing here. [But] it has been kind of draining; I’m not going to lie. I just turn off my phone and move on. I mean, there’s nothing you can do,” she said.
Coco Gauff at the 2026 China Open
- 2R [WIN] vs Camila Osorio, 7-6, 4-6, 6-2
- 3R [WIN] vs Sun Xinran, 7-5, 6-1
- 4R [LOSS] vs Elise Mertens, 3-6, 3-6
Finally, Gauff shared what she and her team will focus on now, as she approaches the final few tournaments of the 2026 WTA Tour season.
“I think just getting rest. I think today I was just a bit flat. That’s the main thing. I mean, the two matches that I did play here – or three matches, because I guess this one counts – the first two I felt I was a bit more engaged. I thought they were a good level. Today, the level was there at some points; I just didn’t sustain it the whole match,” she said.
The good news for Gauff is that she will be back in action before too long. The 22-year-old is expected to return at the Wuhan Open next week, an event she won last year.
Coco Gauff’s WTA 1000 record ahead of Wuhan Open return
The Wuhan Open is statistically Gauff’s best WTA 1000 event. Gauff is 8-1 in Wuhan and won the title last year, defeating her countrywoman Jessica Pegula in the final.
Coco Gauff’s WTA 1000 record
| Rank | Event | Best performance | Latest performance | Win/Loss record |
| 1 | Wuhan Open | Winner – 2025 | Winner – 2025 | 8-1 (89%) |
| 2 | China Open | Winner – 2024 | Fourth round – 2026 | 16-3 (84%) |
| 3 | Italian Open | Final – 2025, 2026 | Final – 2026 | 22-7 (79%) |
| 4 | Cincinnati Open | Winner – 2023, 2026 | Winner – 2026 | 14-5 (74%) |
| 5 | Madrid Open | Final – 2025 | Fourth round – 2026 | 12-6 (67%) |
| 6 | Dubai Tennis Championships | Semi-final – 2023, 2026 | Semi-final – 2026 | 10-5 (67%) |
| 7 | Canadian Open | Semi-final – 2026 | Semi-final – 2026 | 13-6 (67%) |
| 8 | Indian Wells | Semi-final – 2024 | Third round – 2026 | 12-6 (67%) |
| 9 | Miami Open | Final – 2026 | Final – 2026 | 13-7 (57%) |
| 10 | Qatar Open | Quarter-final – 2022 | Second round – 2026 | 3-4 (43%) |
She suffered only one defeat at the final WTA 1000 event of the year, to Aryna Sabalenka in 2024. Even then, Gauff pushed Sabalenka all the way, losing 6-1, 4-6, 4-6 to the top seed.
So, after a tough week in Beijing, Gauff can look forward to playing one of her favourite tournaments. If she can rest up and recover from a draining week at the China Open, don’t be surprised to see Gauff challenge for a second consecutive title in Wuhan. The 2026 Wuhan Open begins on October 12.
