In a surprising upset at the Qatar Open, World No. 5 Coco Gauff was defeated in straight sets by world No. 57 Elisabetta Cocciaretto with scores of 6-4, 6-2. The reigning French Open champion faced an uphill battle after a grueling doubles match the previous day alongside Canadian Victoria Mboko, which ended in a close 5-7, 6-7 loss. Gauff’s fatigue became apparent as she struggled against Cocciaretto, who seized the opportunity to secure her first victory over Gauff despite entering the tournament as a lucky loser.
The match lasted just over 90 minutes, with Gauff managing to put up a fight in the first set, but ultimately faltering in the second, where she was broken three times. This exit marks a disappointing early departure for Gauff from both the singles and doubles categories in just two days. However, she will have a chance to bounce back quickly, as she is scheduled to compete in the Dubai Tennis Championships in five days.
In contrast, World No. 2 Iga Swiatek showcased her dominance by advancing to the round of 16 with a decisive 6-0, 6-3 victory over Indonesia’s Janice Tjen. Swiatek’s performance was particularly noteworthy in the first set, where she did not allow Tjen to score a single game. Although Tjen managed to break Swiatek’s serve early in the second set, the top seed quickly regained control and closed out the match with a late break.
Swiatek will next face Australian Daria Kasatkina as she continues her pursuit of the tournament title. The Qatar Open illustrates the unpredictable nature of tennis, where established players can face unexpected challenges, but it also sets the stage for rising talents to shine on the international stage. Fans can look forward to more thrilling matches as the tournament progresses.