Gauff Upset by No. 57 Cocciaretto in Qatar Open Straight Sets

In a surprising turn of events at the Qatar Open, World No. 5 Coco Gauff faced a notable defeat against World No. 57 Elisabetta Cocciaretto. The American player lost in straight sets, with a final score of 6-4, 6-2, in the second round. The match lasted just over 90 minutes, marking a disappointing exit for the reigning French Open champion.

Impact of Recent Matches on Gauff

Gauff had previously played in a taxing doubles match with Canadian partner Victoria Mboko. The duo lost a close match, finishing with scores of 5-7, 6-7 on Monday. It was evident that Gauff’s fatigue from the recent matches impacted her performance against Cocciaretto.

Cocciaretto’s Path to Victory

Elisabetta Cocciaretto’s victory was particularly noteworthy. She entered the tournament as a lucky loser and had yet to win against Gauff in their prior three encounters. Cocciaretto effectively capitalized on Gauff’s weaknesses, breaking her serve three times during the second set.

In her post-match remarks, Cocciaretto revealed the distraction of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. She stated, “This week is a little bit different for us in Italy,” emphasizing her focus on supporting Italian athletes. She credited her performance to playing additional matches that helped enhance her game.

Upcoming Challenges for Gauff

Following her unexpected exit in both singles and doubles, Gauff will look to regroup ahead of the Dubai Tennis Championships, which begin in five days. This tournament will provide her with an opportunity to reclaim her momentum.

Highlighting Other Matches at the Qatar Open

Meanwhile, World No. 2 Iga Swiatek progressed smoothly through her second-round match against Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, sealing a decisive 6-0, 6-3 victory. Swiatek will face Australian Daria Kasatkina next, holding a 6-1 lead in their head-to-head matches.

Elena Rybakina, the recent Australian Open champion, celebrated her 400th career match win by defeating Wang Xinyu 6-2, 6-4. Rybakina, now on an eight-match winning streak, continues to improve her performance on the court.

Conclusion

With the Qatar Open heating up, the landscape of women’s tennis remains dynamic. While Gauff’s defeat raises questions about her current form, players like Cocciaretto, Swiatek, and Rybakina are demonstrating their competitive prowess. The upcoming tournaments are poised to provide thrilling matchups as the season progresses.