Coco Gauff has withdrawn from the Wuhan Open.
Hours after Gauff lost to Elise Mertens in the fourth round of the China Open, she withdrew from the next WTA 1000 event in Wuhan. The American won the Wuhan Open 12 months ago, defeating Jessica Pegula in the final, but won’t return to defend her title.
The tournament announced Gauff’s withdrawal on Instagram, sharing a message from the defending champion explaining her decision.
Coco Gauff withdraws from the Wuhan Open due to fatigue
“Coco Gauff has withdrawn from the tournament, citing fatigue. Always a champion, Coco; rest up, and we’ll see you next year,” they said.
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They then shared Gauff’s message, in which she defended her decision to skip the final WTA 1000 tournament of 2026.
“I’m disappointed to withdraw from Wuhan, especially as the defending champion. I always love playing there. After a long year, my body needs some time to rest and recover. I look forward to returning next year,” said Gauff.
The American said she ‘always loves’ playing in Wuhan, and that isn’t surprising. Gauff is 8-1 in Wuhan, reaching the semi-finals on debut in 2024 before winning the title in 2025.
Coco Gauff’s Wuhan Open record (8-1)
- 2024 Wuhan Open 2R [WIN] vs Viktoriya Tomova, 6-1, 6-2
- 2024 Wuhan Open 3R [WIN] vs Marta Kostyuk, 6-4, 6-1
- 2024 Wuhan Open QF [WIN] vs Magda Linette, 6-0, 6-4
- 2024 Wuhan Open SF [LOSS] vs Aryna Sabalenka, 6-1, 4-6, 4-6
- 2025 Wuhan Open 2R [WIN] vs Moyuka Uchijima, 6-1, 6-0
- 2025 Wuhan Open 3R [WIN] vs Zhang Shuai, 6-3, 6-2
- 2025 Wuhan Open QF [WIN] vs Laura Siegemund, 6-3, 6-0
- 2025 Wuhan Open SF [WIN] vs Jasmine Paolini, 6-4, 6-3
- 2025 Wuhan Open F [WIN] vs Amanda Anisimova, 6-4, 7-5
Gauff plays her best tennis in Wuhan, but won’t have a chance to improve upon her record in 2026. Instead, she’ll rest up ahead of the WTA Finals in Indian Wells.
Anyone who watched Gauff lose to Mertens in Beijing will know the American looked out of sorts. She seemed drained, physically and mentally, and a rest could do her the world of good. Only time will tell if Gauff can get back to her best before the end of the year.
Coco Gauff’s next steps after Wuhan Open withdrawal
Unlike many of her biggest rivals, Gauff hasn’t signed up for any other WTA 500 or WTA 250 events in Asia this year. She will play the WTA Finals and then Team USA’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against Hungary in November.
Gauff is a former WTA Finals champion, winning the event when it was held in Saudi Arabia two years ago. But how did she clinch the title in Riyadh?
Coco Gauff at the 2024 WTA Finals
| Round | Opponent | Result | Score |
| Group stage | Jessica Pegula | WIN | 6-3, 6-2 |
| Group stage | Iga Swiatek | WIN | 6-3, 6-4 |
| Group stage | Barbora Krejcikova | LOSS | 5-7, 4-6 |
| Semi-final | Aryna Sabalenka | WIN | 7-6, 6-3 |
| Final | Qinwen Zheng | WIN | 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 |
She defeated Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek in the group stage to seal her spot in the semis, before losing to Barbora Krejcikova in a dead rubber. Gauff then beat Aryna Sabalenka and Qinwen Zheng to win the title.
Whether she can repeat the feat in 2026 remains to be seen. The 2026 WTA Finals begin on Saturday, November 7. After the WTA Finals, Gauff will represent Team USA at the Billie Jean King Cup for their qualifying tie against Hungary in Delray Beach, Florida, on November 21.
