Coco Gauff openly admitted that her performance in Doha was subpar, leading to her unexpected early exit. However, she brushed it off as a mere off day at the office and is determined to make a comeback in Dubai this week.
In her first match in Doha, Gauff, currently ranked third in the world, suffered a defeat at the hands of Katerina Siniakova, ranked 39th. The American player struggled to find her rhythm, falling behind a set. Surprisingly, in the second set, Gauff seemed to transform into a different player, taking a commanding 4-0 lead and even breaking her opponent’s serve twice. However, in a shocking turn of events, Gauff lost the following six games and ultimately the match.
Gauff’s performance in Doha was undoubtedly her worst of the season, considering her impressive 10-1 record in 2024. Reflecting on her loss, Gauff acknowledged her lackluster play, emphasizing that if she had performed better and still lost, it would have been a different story. Nevertheless, she believes it is crucial to maintain perspective in such moments.
Looking ahead to the Dubai tournament, Gauff expressed her determination to bounce back. She acknowledged that some players might choose to skip a tournament after a loss, but she personally prefers to play as much as possible, as long as she remains healthy.
After her early exit in Doha, the 19-year-old Gauff is eager to make a stronger impression in the second WTA 1000 tournament of the year in Dubai. As the third seed, she receives a first-round bye and will begin her campaign on Tuesday against lucky loser Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the second round.
Gauff remains optimistic about her prospects in Dubai, stating that she hopes for a better week. She refuses to dwell on her previous loss, considering it nothing more than a bad day at work. Gauff is determined not to let that setback dictate her performance this week.
This marks Gauff’s fourth appearance in Dubai, with her best result being a semifinal finish last year.
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org