Coco Gauff Stunned by McCartney Kessler in Dubai Tennis Tournament

Coco Gauff, the world number three, was knocked out of the WTA 1000 competition in Dubai in the second round on Tuesday, losing 6-4, 7-5 to fellow American McCartney Kessler.

World No. 3 Coco Gauff was eliminated in the second round of the WTA 1000 competition in Dubai on Tuesday, losing 6-4, 7-5 to fellow American McCartney Kessler. The world number 53, who defeated Doha winner Amanda Anisimova in the first round, broke Gauff’s service three times and saved five of her six break points. The only time she messed up was when she attempted to serve out the match for the first time at 5-4 in the second set.

It is the first time that Kessler, 25, has beaten a top 10 player although she has won the first two titles of her career in the last six months – in Cleveland in August 2024 and then in Hobart at the beginning of January.

She is through to the third round of a WTA 1000 for the first time in her career, and will face No.14 seed Karolina Muchova who beat 2021 US Open winner Emma Raducanu 7-6 (8/6), 6-4.

Gauff made a good start to the year winning all her matches for the United States as they won the United Cup and reaching the quarter-finals at the Australian Open.

However, she lost in the second round of the Doha WTA 1000 last Tuesday, also in two sets, to Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk and has now fallen to world No.53 Kessler.

There were no such problems for the top two seeds.

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka picked up her first win since the Australian Open semifinals with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over qualifier Veronika Kudermetova.

“It’s always like a roller coaster of a game with (Kudermetova),” said Sabalenka.

“That’s why I’m happy with the way I stayed focused today. No matter how she played, I was there fighting, trying to stay focused on myself and on my game.”

Iga Swiatek defeated Victoria Azarenka 6-0, 6-2.

Jasmine Paolini began her title defence with a win, despite the rain.

The Italians approached match point before the weather forced them to leave the court. Over four hours later, the world number four returned to claim the last point, defeating German qualifier Eva Lys 6-2, 7-5.