Tennis Scores Today: Coco Gauff’s Forehand Concerns in Doha

Coco Gauff’s start to 2026 has been challenging, and her recent performance at the Qatar Open highlighted ongoing issues with her forehand. Despite a history of four wins in eight matches in Doha, Tuesday’s 6-4, 6-2 loss to Elisabetta Cocciaretto was particularly disheartening, not for the result itself, but for the recurring problems with her forehand – a concern that could define her season if not addressed.

“I just feel like some of the things I’ve been working on in practice aren’t translating to the match court, which is super frustrating,” Gauff admitted after the match.

Cocciaretto’s Steady Play and Gauff’s Erratic Forehand

Elisabetta Cocciaretto, ranked No. 57, maintained composure under pressure and capitalized on Gauff’s inconsistent forehand. The American’s forehand errors were frequent and varied – blasting long, flying wide, or being shanked vertically. The slower hard courts in Doha neutralized Gauff’s usual defensive tactic of directing her forehand into her opponent’s backhand, making it easier for Cocciaretto to attack.

“I tried to be more aggressive and was hitting more unforced errors,” Gauff explained. “When I tried to be a little more passive and play with more shape, she was taking the ball early and crushing the ball.”

Gauff briefly found her rhythm late in the second set, pushing Cocciaretto back and attacking short balls. However, Cocciaretto saved a break point with a stunning inside-out backhand winner – a shot Gauff relies on when her forehand falters.

The Bigger Picture: Gauff’s Forehand Remodeling

While the loss won’t significantly impact Gauff’s ranking, it underscores the challenge of improving her forehand. Improving a serve is a controlled skill, but refining a forehand is an “open skill” dependent on various match conditions. This requires extensive training, potentially necessitating missed tournaments and risking ranking points and prize money.

Gauff’s performance has been a mixed bag. Her Australian Open quarterfinal defeat to Elina Svitolina, where she was overwhelmed, serves as a reminder of the potential for struggles. However, she also demonstrates moments of brilliance, pinning opponents back with her forehand and utilizing her exceptional backhand and athleticism to win seemingly lost points. Against Cocciaretto, she faced 11 break points but only conceded three, showcasing her defensive capabilities.

However, 39 unforced errors compared to 13 winners proved too much to overcome. A particularly impressive rally (see WTA’s Twitter post) highlighted Cocciaretto’s resilience.

Looking Ahead

At just 21, Gauff has a promising career ahead. However, she faces a crucial decision regarding balancing tournament commitments with the necessary time to address her forehand issues. The path forward is complex, but addressing this weakness is vital for her continued success. Keep up with the latest tennis scores and analysis on the WTA website.

James Hansen is a Senior Managing Editor for The Athletic covering tennis.