Coco Gauff Kicks Off Clay Court Season with Dominant Win in Stuttgart

Coco Gauff's defeated Ella Seidel in straight sets at the 2025 Stuttgart Open.
Coco Gauff easily defeated Ella Seidel in the Stuttgart Open.
Coco Gauff easily defeated Ella Seidel in the Stuttgart Open. | IMAGO / Michael Weber

It has been a full three weeks since Coco Gauff's early exit in Miami. Gauff kicked off her clay court season with a dominant win against Ella Seidel in the Stuttgart Open (called the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix): 6-1, 6-1.

Serving issues and inconsistent play have plagued Gauff throughout most of the season, but the 4-seed looked sharper in today's Round of 16 matchup.

Gauff tallied two aces and three double faults. Even better, she hit 86% on her first serves and won the point on 78% and 67% of her first two serves. Gauff executed on 5/8 break points to Seidel's 0/3 in break point opportunities.

Gauff now has a record of 14-5 and a solid position to build on as she mounts her clay court campaign.

Gauff will advance to her first quarterfinal since the Australian Open in January with today's win. The Stuttgart Open is a WTA 500 event that has drawn almost all the world's top players.

Gauff will face the five-seed Jasmine Paolini in the quarterfinals tomorrow, Friday, April 18. The winner will likely face WTA World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinal on Saturday.

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Pat Benson
PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers professional tennis for Serve on Sports Illustrated, reporting on ATP and WTA events worldwide. From Challenger tournaments to Grand Slams, he brings readers in-depth coverage, daily recaps, and exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport. With a decade of experience in sports journalism, Pat is recognized as a trusted voice in tennis media. You can contact him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.

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