Coco Gauff, the No. 4 seed, is facing a mental block as she struggles to translate her practice form into match court success. Despite a strong start to the 2026 season, including a victory over Iga Swiatek at the United Cup, Gauff has suffered two consecutive defeats since reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals. She acknowledges feeling out of sorts in recent matches, with her performance not matching her practice sessions.
The American tennis player, who is only 21 years old, has been working on her game in practice but is frustrated that these improvements aren't showing up in her matches. She's particularly struggling against players who hit the ball flat and take advantage of her more passive play style. Gauff's serve, however, has been a positive, with only three double faults in her latest match.
Gauff's challenge in the Middle East is not new, as she has faced early defeats in Doha and Dubai in previous years. She's determined to reset and find a way to translate her strong practices into match court success, especially under pressure. Her next stop is the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, where she aims to improve her performance and reach the semifinals once again.
