Coco Gauff Returns to Form with Win Over Kalinskaya in Dubai

Coco Gauff rediscovered her winning touch, securing a straight-sets victory over Anna Kalinskaya in the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The No. 3 seed overcame a challenging start in both sets to defeat Kalinskaya 6-4, 6-4, avenging a previous loss to her opponent.

A Match Marked by Resilience

Dubai: Scores | Draws | Order of Play

Two years prior, Kalinskaya had upset Gauff in the Dubai quarterfinals with a score of 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, propelling her to her first WTA 1000 final. This match marked their first encounter since that surprising defeat, and Gauff was determined to turn the tables.

The match wasn’t without its struggles for Gauff, who faced difficulties with her serve and the windy conditions. Kalinskaya came out strong, leading 2-0 in the first set and 3-1 in the second. However, Kalinskaya required a medical timeout for her left leg while trailing 4-3 in the first set, visibly hampered by a physical issue.

Kalinskaya’s Aggressive Strategy and Gauff’s Defense

Kalinskaya attempted to dictate play with powerful, flat strikes from the baseline, but her aggressive approach led to a high number of unforced errors (45) compared to her winners (11). Gauff, despite committing 12 double faults and 33 unforced errors herself, showcased impressive defensive skills, including a stunning sliced backhand winner. She consistently pressured Kalinskaya’s serve, winning only 46% of her first-serve points.

“It wasn’t the prettiest one, but it was enough for today,” Gauff admitted in her on-court interview. “It was pretty windy. I was just trying to adjust – both of us were struggling with consistency on the court.”

A Confidence Boost for Gauff

Gauff described the victory as a much-needed “confidence boost” following recent losses in Doha and the Australian Open quarterfinals to Elina Svitolina. “Just trying to find form again, which is tough,” she explained. “Obviously, Anna’s a tough opponent. She’s beaten some quality players, she beat me here a couple of years ago. I’m happy with how today went. Winning when you’re not playing your best is what I’m most proud of.”

Next Up: Elise Mertens

Gauff will next face Elise Mertens, who dominated No. 14 seed Emma Navarro 6-2, 6-2. Gauff holds a 4-0 head-to-head record against Mertens, including a 2-0 advantage on hard courts. This promises to be another exciting match for the rising star, Coco Gauff.

This win marks a significant step for Coco Gauff as she continues her journey on the WTA tour. Fans are eager to see how she will perform against Mertens and continue her pursuit of championship titles. For more information on the WTA tour and Coco Gauff’s progress, visit the official WTA website.