This week at the Qatar Open, two prominent WTA stars, Coco Gauff and Victoria Mboko, are partnering to compete in the women’s doubles tournament. The event marks their first collaboration in a WTA 1000 competition as they aim to combine their talents following earlier encounters as opponents. Gauff doubles partnership is gaining more attention as the American builds on recent successes in this format.
Background on Gauff and Mboko’s Doubles Experience
Coco Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam singles champion, is no stranger to doubles competition; she recently secured the women’s doubles title alongside Katerina Siniakova at the 2024 French Open. Meanwhile, Victoria Mboko is steadily increasing her doubles experience, having played with Iva Jovic at the Australian Open just last month. Their growing familiarity with doubles strategy adds to the anticipation surrounding their new partnership.
Previous Encounters and Partnership Development
Gauff and Mboko first faced each other at the 2025 Italian Open, where Gauff rallied to win a three-set match. However, Mboko turned the tables at the Canadian Open later that year by defeating Gauff during her remarkable run to the title, which included wins over four Grand Slam champions. Their recent alliance for the doubles draw in Doha came about unexpectedly after both players’ original partners were unable to enter the tournament.
“So, we were like: ‘Wanna play?’ and so, it just came about. But it’s pretty cool!”
— Victoria Mboko, WTA Player
Challenging Opponents Await in Opening Match
Unseeded in the doubles draw, Gauff and Mboko face a daunting first-round match against the seventh-seeded duo of Cristina Bucsa and Nicole Melichar-Martinez. Melichar-Martinez is ranked No. 17 in doubles and boasts a career that includes reaching two Grand Slam women’s doubles finals and winning the 2018 Wimbledon mixed doubles title. Bucsa, ranked No. 22, has seven women’s doubles titles to her name, including the 2024 Madrid Open, underscoring the strength of the opponents that Gauff and Mboko will need to overcome.
Implications of This Partnership at the Qatar Open
The new team of Gauff and Mboko could offer fresh dynamics on the court, blending Gauff’s experience in high-stakes matches with Mboko’s rising potential. Their collaboration at the Qatar Open not only provides an opportunity to gain momentum in the doubles circuit but also tests their ability to quickly develop chemistry under pressure. Success here might encourage further joint participation in upcoming tournaments, potentially enhancing both players’ doubles rankings and experience.
