World No. 3 Coco Gauff will compete at the 2026 WTA 500 Berlin Open, tournament director Andrea Petkovic confirmed on Tuesday, April 22, 2026. The announcement was made during a press event in Berlin, where Petkovic, serving as the event’s “Director of Excitement,” revealed that Gauff has committed to playing the grass-court tournament scheduled for June 16–22, 2026, at the Rot-Weiss Tennis Club.
Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion, won the Berlin title in 2024 and returns as the tournament’s designated “Poster Girl” for 2026. Petkovic emphasized Gauff’s stature in the sport, calling her a “Riesenstar” and highlighting her intelligence and eloquence both on and off the court. “Wir haben von Coco Gauff schon die Bestätigung bekommen, das ist unser Poster Girl dieses Jahr,” Petkovic stated in German during the announcement, which was reported by rbb24.de and confirmed through multiple German sports outlets.
The WTA 500 Berlin Open, played on outdoor grass courts, serves as a key warm-up event for Wimbledon. In 2022, the tournament was won by Ons Jabeur, who defeated Belinda Bencic in the final after Bencic retired due to injury. Gauff participated in that edition as the No. 13 seed but did not advance beyond the early rounds, according to historical tournament records from Wikipedia.
Petkovic expressed hope for a potential final showdown between the world’s top two players, describing it as a “Nummer-eins-Duell” that would elevate the tournament’s profile. While the full player field will not be finalized until approximately six weeks before the tournament’s start, Gauff’s early commitment provides a significant boost to the event’s prestige and marketing efforts.
The Rot-Weiss Tennis Club in Berlin’s Grunewald district has hosted the WTA German Open since its revival, with the tournament upgrading to WTA 500 status in recent years. Surface conditions on grass typically favor players with strong serves and net play, presenting a different challenge than the clay courts where Gauff recently captured her second Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.
As of the announcement date, Gauff holds the No. 3 position in the WTA singles rankings, behind only Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka. Her 2024 Berlin victory came without dropping a set, showcasing her adaptability to grass-court conditions despite being primarily known for her success on hard and clay surfaces.
Ticket sales and further tournament details, including wild-card selections and qualifying draw information, are expected to be released in the coming weeks as the entry deadline approaches. Fans can follow official updates through the WTA’s website and the tournament’s social media channels.
The 2026 WTA Berlin Open will begin on June 16 and conclude with the singles final on June 22, 2026. Daily match schedules and order of play will be published once the main draw is finalized.
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