Elisabetta Cocciaretto, a lucky loser at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open, achieved her third career Top 10 victory and her first at a WTA 1000 event with a straight-sets upset against fourth-seeded Coco Gauff. Cocciaretto’s impressive performance culminated in a 6-4, 6-2 win, marking a significant milestone as she advanced to the last 16 of the tournament for the first time.
In her post-match interview, Cocciaretto revealed that her focus this week has been influenced by the ongoing Milano Cortina Winter Olympics held in her home country, sharing her excitement for the Italian athletes competing. “Well, I think this week is a little bit different for us in Italy,” she said. “Because now I’m more focused on the Winter Olympics than on the tournament, cheering for the Italian athletes.”
Cocciaretto has been particularly inspired by her friend Sofia Goggia, the bronze medallist in downhill skiing. The two athletes connected through their mutual clothing sponsor, Emporio Armani, and often communicate regarding their sports. “Now we are in contact,” Cocciaretto noted. “We always send messages and FaceTime to talk about our sports and how you manage some things. She gives me a lot of advice.”
Despite never having skied herself due to her parents’ concerns for her safety, Cocciaretto admires the sport and its athletes. Her coach, Fausto Scolari, has helped cultivate this appreciation, and she expresses a desire to introduce her future children to skiing, citing the athletes’ fearless approach to their sport as an inspiration.
Cocciaretto brought this fearlessness to her match against Gauff, having previously struggled with self-doubt. “Sometimes I wasn’t sure about myself, about winning some matches,” she admitted. By overcoming her limits, she adopted a champion’s mindset, which paid off during her victory.
She employed an offensive strategy, featuring aggressive baseline play which led to 10 winners in the opening set. Cocciaretto notably broke Gauff’s serve in a compelling 33-shot rally that showcased her resilience. Even when Gauff evened the score at 3-3, Cocciaretto reasserted her dominance, securing breaks and maintaining composure under pressure.
The second set saw less tension as Cocciaretto maintained her grip on the match, capitalizing on Gauff’s increasing unforced errors. Gauff reflected on her struggles, acknowledging the need to adjust her playstyle against Cocciaretto’s aggressive tactics.
This decisive win continues Cocciaretto’s promising season, which includes her recent capitalizations on qualifying rounds, including a title win in Hobart in January. Having previously faced Gauff multiple times without securing a victory, this match represents a significant turning point for Cocciaretto.
She will now face American player Ann Li in her next match, as both vie for a place in the WTA 1000 quarterfinals. With her newfound confidence and strong support from fellow athletes like Goggia, Cocciaretto is poised for continued success on the WTA circuit.