Coco Gauff won't play in the 2023 Zhengzhou Open after all, as the American withdrew with injury concerns after her match against Iga Swiatek in Beijing.
Coco Gauff returned to tennis for the first time since the 2023 US Open win in Beijing, playing at the WTA 1000 event there. It was an excellent week for the teenager who won her first match as a Grand Slam champion but ultimately failed to book another final.
She was beaten by Iga Swiatek comfortably in a match where she never really found her best tennis. She was seemingly plagued by a physical issue as well taking a medical timeout during the match but opting to finish standing.
Not much information about the possible injury has emerged since then, but she won't play in Zhengzhou next week as initially planned. A few days ago, she explained why she opted to play back-to-back weeks in China, wanting to have a free week before the WTA Finals later this month.
It made sense, but it won't happen as she withdrew from the event after the draw was made, where she was the first seed. We don't know the issue or how serious it is, but this is mostly a precaution because the Finals are around the corner, and she does not need to play.
Her spot is secure, the ranking doesn't really matter, and she has a few matches under her belt in Beijing. Opting to play next week was more about ensuring a few matches if she were to lose early at the China Open, but that ultimately didn't happen.
That means that we won't see Gauff on the court until the WTA Finals which begin in the final days of October. The event will take place in Mexico once more, and it's the second time in a row that Gauff will take part. She hopes to avoid going winless this year.
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