Coco Gauff overcame a poor serving performance to secure her place in the last 16 of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Tuesday. Despite hitting 12 double faults, the 21-year-old American found a way to beat Anna Kalinskaya 6-4, 6-4. While Goff struggled to maintain a rhythm in the windy conditions, Kalinskaya seemed physically hampered throughout the match, resulting in a staggering 45 unforced errors.
“It wasn’t the prettiest win, but it was good enough for today,” Goff said of the victory, which ended a brief losing streak in the Middle East.
The victory sets up a high-profile match for Gauff against Belgium’s Elise Mertens. Mertens earned her spot with a clinical performance, beating 14th seed Emma Navarro 6-2, 6-2 in just 75 minutes.
Gauff’s advancement marks a strong showing for the U.S. in Dubai, where she is one of four Americans to advance to the last 16. She will be joined by second seed Amanda Anisimova and fourth seed Jessica Pegula. Pegula easily defeated Varvara Gracheva 6-4, 6-0 and will now face an interesting battle of generations against 18-year-old rising star Iva Jovic.
Jovic is a perfect 5-0 in deciding sets this year, continuing his remarkable run in 2026. The No. 16 seed recovered from a second-set blunder to beat Diana Schneider 6-4, 1-6, 6-0. The result ensures at least one American will advance to the quarterfinals, where veteran Pegula and rising star Jovic will face off next.
| Year | champion | runner up | Fraction |
| 2025 | Mira Andreeva | Clara Towson | 7–6(1), 6–1 |
| 2024 | Jasmine Paolini | Anna Kalinskaya | 4–6, 7–5, 7–5 |
| 2023 | Barbora Krejcikova | Iga Swiatek | 6–4, 6–2 |
| 2022 | Jenna Ostapenko | Veronika Kudermetova | 6–0, 6–4 |
| 2021 | Garbiñe Muguruza | Barbora Krejcikova | 7–6(6), 6–3 |
| 2020 | Simona Halep (2) | Elena Rybakina | 3–6, 6–3, 7–6(5) |
| 2019 | Belinda Bencic | Petra Kvitova | 6–3, 1–6, 6–2 |
| 2018 | Elena Svitolina (2) | Darya Kasatkina | 6–4, 6–0 |
| 2017 | Elena Svitolina | Caroline Wozniacki | 6–4, 6–2 |
| 2016 | Sara Errani | Barbora Strycova | 6–0, 6–2 |
| 2015 | Simona Halep | Karolina Pliskova | 6–4, 7–6(4) |
| 2014 | Venus Williams (3) | Alize Cornet | 6–3, 6–0 |
| 2013 | Petra Kvitova | Sara Errani | 6–2, 1–6, 6–1 |
| 2012 | Agnieszka Radwanska | Julia Gorges | 7–5, 6–4 |
| 2011 | Caroline Wozniacki | Svetlana Kuznetsova | 6–1, 6–3 |
| 2010 | Venus Williams (2) | Victoria Azarenka | 6–3, 7–5 |
| 2009 | Venus Williams | Virginie Razzano | 6–4, 6–2 |
| 2008 | Elena Dementieva | Svetlana Kuznetsova | 4–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 2007 | Justin Hennig (4) | Amelie Mauresmo | 6–4, 7–5 |
| 2006 | Justin Hennig (3) | Maria Sharapova | 7–5, 6–2 |
| 2005 | Lindsay Davenport | Jelena Jankovic | 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 |
| 2004 | Justin Hennig (2) | Svetlana Kuznetsova | 7–6(3), 6–3 |
| 2003 | Justin Hennig | Monica Seles | 4–6, 7–6(4), 7–5 |
| 2002 | Amelie Mauresmo | Sandrine Testard | 6–4, 7–6(3) |
| 2001 | Martina Hingis | Natalie Tauziat | 6–4, 6–4 |
Tuesday was a breezy day for 2026 Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina. The world number three will compete in the WTA 1000 event as the top seed for the first time in her career this week due to the withdrawals of Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. Rybakina made quick work of Kimberly Birrell, winning 6-1, 6-2 in just 61 minutes to re-establish herself as the tournament favorite.
