Madrid Open 2024 Draw: Coco Gauff's projected path to the final ft. potential R4 clash with Naomi Osaka and SF with Iga Swiatek

World No. 3 Coco Gauff will continue her clay swing at the 2024 Madrid Open, which will run from April 23 to May 5.

Gauff kicked off her clay season at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. She received a first-round bye before beating Sachia Vickery in three sets in the second round.

Gauff, though, lost to Marta Kostyuk in three sets in the quarterfinals. Her year-to-date record stands at 19-6, and she has lost in the quarterfinal twice. She won the ASB Classic in January and followed up with a semifinal appearance at the Australian Open.

Gauff's history at the Madrid Open is quite underwhelming. She has never made it past the third round and has a 3-3 record. If she wants to better her record, she will have to go through the following players at this year's edition of the Madrid Open:

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Possible R2 opponent - Arantxa Rus

After a first-round bye, Coco Gauff could meet veteran Arantxa Rus in the second round. Rus has a 9-10 record for the year and has reached three quarterfinals, including one in Rouen last week. This will be her first career meeting with Gauff.

If Rus fails to make it through her opener, Gauff could have to deal with Czech teen Brenda Fruhvirtova instead. The American defeated her younger rival in January en route the title in Auckland. She should do the same once again.

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Possible R3 opponent - Dayana Yastremska

Dayana Yastremska has won just three matches after a career resurgence with a semifinal finish at this year's Australian Open. While based on seedings, she's expected to meet Coco Gauff in the third round, it seems like a long shot given her form.

Gauff could alternatively face fellow American Amanda Anisimova at this stage. Anisimova is a former quarterfinalist at the Madrid Open as well. The two have split their previous two meetings.

Gauff won their first encounter at the 2021 Parma Open, while Anisimova avenged that loss a year later at Wimbledon. Based on their past results, the World No. 3 should make it through this clash.

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Possible R4 opponent - Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers.

Madison Keys and Liudmila Samsonova are the seeded players in this section of the draw.

However, the two have a combined seven wins between them. Naomi Osaka is the other standout name lurking in this part of the draw and is in slightly better form with a 8-7 record for the year.

Coco Gauff and Osaka have faced off four times before and each player has two wins apiece in this rivalry. While the American's clay resume is better than Osaka's, the Japanese made the Madrid Open quarterfinals in 2019. The World No. 3 will need to remain on guard if she wants to win.

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Possible QF opponent - Emma Raducanu

Ons Jabeur is the highest seed in the section of the draw, but given her form, it's unlikely she will make it that far. There are plenty of big names to reach the last-eight instead, including Jelena Ostapenko, Paula Badosa, Leylah Fernandez, Sofia Kenin and Emma Raducanu.

Out of those five, only Raducanu has shown promise on clay this year and has four wins on the surface. The Brit fell to Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.

If she maintains her level, Raducanu could threaten Coco Gauff at this stage. The American won their only prior encounter at last year's Australian Open in straight sets.

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Possible SF opponent - Iga Swiatek

Given Swiatek's dominance on clay, she seems like a surefire bet to make it to the semifinals of the Madrid Open. Unlike the last couple of years, her clay swing didn't begin on a triumphant note.

Swiatek was the two-time defending champion at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart but lost to Elena Rybakina in the semifinals. However, she has a relatively easy draw in Madrid. She leads Coco Gauff 9-1 in the head-to-head, so if the two should meet, the World No. 1 will be backed to win.

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Possible final opponent - Elena Rybakina

Elena Rybakina at the 2024 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.

Should Coco Gauff make it past Swiatek, she will face an uphill battle in the final too. Elena Rybakina, who won the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix over the weekend, could await in the championship round. The Kazakh has won three titles this year with an impressive 26-4 win-loss record.

If not Rybakina, Gauff could be up against another in-form player, Danielle Collins, who arrives in Madrid on a 13-match winning streak following title wins in Miami and Charleston.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka is also in this half of the draw, but given her form, an early exit is on the horizon for her. Her record in Madrid is rather odd, as she has either lost in the first round or won the title.

Gauff leads Sabalenka 4-3 in the head-to-head, but she lost their most recent encounter at this year's Australian Open. She has never played against Collins and won her only match against Rybakina at the 2022 Canadian Open in three sets. All three of them could upstage the American in the final.