Paula Badosa secured a remarkable comeback victory over fifth-seeded Coco Gauff at the 2026 Berlin Open on Mercredi, advancing to the quarterfinals after a hard-fought 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 win. This triumph marks her fifth win in eight career encounters against the American rising star.
The match represented Gauff’s first grass-court appearance of the season, coming just under two weeks before Wimbledon. She started strongly, dominating the opening set 6-1 with aggressive baseline play and impressive court coverage.
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Despite her promising start, Gauff’s performance declined as the match progressed. Her first-serve percentage steadily decreased in the second and third sets, allowing Badosa to capitalize with two breaks of serve in each of those frames. The Espagnol wildcard adapted well to the grass surface, gradually taking control of rallies and shifting the momentum in her favor.
Coming into Berlin on a five-match losing streak, Badosa’s turnaround is especially notable. “It’s been very tough. One year ago here I got injured. Since then I couldn’t play, like, constantly. I went through a lot professionally but also personally. Seeing myself again playing at this level means a lot for me,” she reflected after the match.
Looking ahead, Badosa will face either the No. 13 seed Linda Noskova or French contender Diane Parry in the next round of the Berlin Open.