As the top seeds fell in Beijing, it felt more and more likely that Coco Gauff was going to go all the way at the China Open this year.
After all, having won the event in 2024 and reached the semi-finals in her only other two appearances, the American has form at this particular tournament.
Sadly, nobody could have foreseen the collapse she would endure in just the Round of 16 this year, wilting in her latest contest against Elise Mertens, and adding yet another big name to the star-studded casualty list of this competition.
Despite having only played three matches, it has been a trying event for Coco Gauff, for many reasons.
Firstly, the elongated format of these WTA 1000s only adds to this protracted feeling, which both players and fans seem to be suffering from. And that’s not to mention the mental toll that her win over 16-year-old Chinese sensation Sun Xinran had on her, with many accusing her of cheating afterwards.
In the end, it all culminated in her straightforward loss to Mertens, with Gauff’s mid-match plea to her coaching box indicative of a player who needs a break.
Coco Gauff heard making worrying comments to her team during latest loss
It remains uncertain whether Gauff’s troubles were caused by mental or physical fatigue.
Either way, it did not sound good, with her claims relayed by James Hansen via The Athletic.
He overheard her telling her team: “I have no energy. I’m trying, I have no energy. I can’t see the ball; I feel like I’m going to pass out.
“I’m going to just try to finish the match.”
There was no reply from her coaching box, although, in all honesty, there wasn’t much that could be said.
Just four games later, the 23-year-old had lost, and the nightmare was over.
Gauff spoke after this defeat and was quite succinct in her assessment of the performance and subsequent result.
Coco Gauff joins long list of absences at the Wuhan Open
Gauff has since withdrawn from the Wuhan Open following this China Open loss, and given how exhausted she looked in that loss to Mertens, it’s a decision few will argue with.
She joins a long list of absentees from this WTA 1000 event, which has significantly weakened the draw.
Photo by Fred Lee/Getty Images
Naomi Osaka is perhaps the other most notable absentee, who lost a three-set thriller to Karolina Muchova earlier this week in Beijing.
Elena Rybakina’s withdrawal from this tournament marks the biggest blow for the organisers though, losing the world number one to injury.
Elsewhere, the likes of Amanda Anisimova, Emma Navarro and Anastasia Potapova have all shut down their 2026 seasons completely, and will therefore also miss Wuhan.