Coco Gauff has found her rhythm. After a rollercoaster start to the 2026 season, the American star is now the clear favorite to win the prestigious Stuttgart Open, signaling a powerful return to form just as the clay-court swing heats up.

Her journey this year mirrors the resilience needed in professional sports. Aiming to rebound from a patchy end to 2025, Gauff initially stumbled with early exits in Melbourne and Doha, followed by an injury withdrawal at Indian Wells. But champions adapt. She stormed back to reach the final in Miami, narrowly losing to Aryna Sabalenka, and battled her way to another final in Madrid, proving she's competing at the very highest level.

Now, ranked a solid world No. 3 behind only Iga Swiatek and Sabalenka, Gauff arrives in Stuttgart with momentum and a dream draw. After a first-round bye, her path looks promising. She'll open against either Antonia Ruzic, ranked outside the top 50, or Liudmila Samsonova, who is mired in a six-match losing streak.

A potential quarterfinal clash looms with the in-form Karolina Muchova. However, history heavily favors Gauff, who boasts a perfect 6-0 record against the Czech star, including a dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory in their most recent Miami semifinal.

Stuttgart, however, holds unfinished business for Gauff. Since her debut in 2022, she has never won more than a single match at the event. She lost her opener that year and, as the fifth seed in 2023, won a round before falling in the next. The last two editions have seen similar early exits.

This year presents the perfect opportunity to rewrite that narrative. With a favorable draw and her game clicking into gear, Coco Gauff is poised not just to compete, but to conquer in Stuttgart and solidify her status as a dominant force on tour.