Coming back onto the court, Coco Gauff is chasing a new challenge. The American hasn’t had the best run since her record-breaking French Open win in May. Ahead of Wimbledon, she faced early exits, capped by a first-round loss at SW19. True to her word, Gauff showed some improvement during the American swing. Still, her campaign only went as far as the Round of 16 at the US Open. Now, as the second seed and defending champion at the China Open, the question is: What does her path look like?

On Monday, September 22, the WTA draw in Beijing was released. Gauff received a first-round bye, but the road is still tricky. In Round 2, she will play either Kamilla Rakhimova or Lucia Bronzetti. She has only met Rakhimova on the doubles court. Against Bronzetti, Gauff holds a dominant 3-0 singles record. Their last clash came at the Cincinnati Masters, and once again, Coco walked away the winner.

In the third round, Coco Gauff could meet No. 15 Belinda Bencic or No. 22 Jelena Ostapenko. That could mean trouble, but nothing Gauff hasn’t handled before. She leads Bencic 3-2 in head-to-head. Their most recent duel was at the Madrid Open Round of 16, where Gauff went all the way to the final. Ostapenko, on the other hand, is the wildcard factor. They last met in the 2023 US Open quarterfinals. While the American has the slight edge in their head-to-head, Ostapenko has stepped up since. She’s beaten Swiatek and Sabalenka this season, even taking the title in Stuttgart.

If Coco Gauff advances, she could run into No. 25 Leylah Fernandez in the Round of 16. The Canadian, just 23, has already shared the court with her twice. Both ended in the World No.3’s favor, their most recent at the Australian Open third round earlier this year, and before that at the United Cup. A reunion in Beijing would be fiery. Fernandez is still hunting that breakthrough win, and Gauff knows the kind of energy Fernandez brings to a big stage.

Should the 21 year old make the quarterfinals, things get serious. Waiting could be Elena Rybakina, then Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals, and possibly top seed Iga Swiatek in the final. That’s a heavyweight lineup. Gauff hasn’t faced Rybakina since Dubai in 2023. Against Anisimova, her last battle came at Wimbledon 2022 in the third round.

Things may look different now, with both players evolving their games. If it’s Swiatek in the final, it’ll be a rematch of Madrid’s semifinals. Not to mention, the Pole is in top form right now, fresh off another win at the Korea Open! The World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka won’t be in the draw, having pulled out with a minor injury. That’s one less obstacle in Coco Gauff’s way.

So, is Coco Gauff ready to take down the stars and chase her next title? Only time will tell. She continues to work on her game, fine-tuning under plenty of outside advice.

Renowned coach reveals what could be Coco Gauff’s biggest weapon

Remember how Gauff’s serve haunted her again at the US Open round of 16 exit to Naomi Osaka? The same flaw that showed up earlier in August at the Canadian Open, where she sprayed 23 double faults against Danielle Collins. Somehow, she survived 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (2), but the cracks followed her to New York and decided the tightest moments of her matches.

Now the spotlight shifts to her work with “serve doctor” Gavin MacMillan. And enter Rick Macci, Serena Williams’s former coach, who believes the flaw could flip into a weapon. On September 11, Macci posted on X: “Because Coco fights and can fly, she never says good bye. Her serve will become her best shot and she contend again for the number one spot. If she is reprogramed with the more compact explosive ATP FOREHAND, the Delray Dart will be number one in the land. @CocoGauff.” And when the man who coached Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Andy Roddick, and Maria Sharapova sees it — you listen.

But the reality checks keep coming. Against Ajla Tomljanović in round one, Gauff piled up 10 double faults, dropped serve six times, and even blew a chance when serving at 5-4 in the decider. Against Donna Vekic, her serve wobbled again: seven more double faults, four service games coughed up early, and even a tearful breakdown mid-match. By the Osaka clash, her serve wasn’t the lone issue, but it still cost her. Four breaks. Five double faults. Campaign over.

Even analysts are scratching their heads. Rennae Stubbs praised Coco Gauff’s game but said, “I don’t understand why now she has literally two coaches (and) nothing has changed on her serve…like the ball toss is so far ahead of her on the second serve.” Hiring MacMillan alongside Jean-Christophe Faurel, the team who fixed Aryna Sabalenka’s serve, once had Macci predicting, “This can be solved real quick and make her serve click.”

Now he’s betting it’ll become her best shot. The China Open awaits! Is this where she flips the script? Let us hear your thoughts below!