Coco Gauff and rising star Iva Jovic secured places in the last 16 at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships held on Tuesday. The American player earned a hard-fought victory over Anna Kalinskaya, reversing her previous loss to the Russian at the same event in 2024, with a 6-4, 6-4 win in the second round.
Kalinskaya, who had recently reached the quarter-finals in Doha, was hampered by a left leg injury, requesting a medical timeout while trailing 4-3 in the first set, which appeared to disrupt her momentum throughout the match.
Details from the Gauff-Kalinskaya Match
Despite committing 12 double faults and 33 unforced errors, Gauff managed to maintain control, while Kalinskaya struggled with 45 unforced errors and 11 winners. Gauff, who had been defeated in her opening Doha match by Elisabetta Cocciaretto, found this victory crucial in building back confidence.
It wasn’t the prettiest win but it was enough today,
said Gauff.
It was pretty windy. I was just trying to adjust – both of us were struggling with consistency on the court.
In her post-match press conference, Gauff described this win as a vital confidence boost after recent setbacks, including her loss in the Australian Open quarter-finals against Elina Svitolina.
Just trying to find form again, which is tough,
Gauff explained.
Obviously, Anna’s a tough opponent. She’s beaten some quality players, she beat me here a couple of years ago. I’m happy with how today went. Winning when you’re not playing your best is what I’m most proud of.
Next Challenge for Gauff
Gauff is set to face Elise Mertens in her upcoming match. Mertens secured her spot in the last 16 by defeating Emma Navarro in straight sets in just over an hour and a quarter, marking her first victory over Gauff in three meetings.
Former Champions Continue Their Runs
Two previous Dubai champions, Mirra Andreeva and Belinda Bencic, both advanced to the third round without playing. Andreeva progressed after Daria Kasatkina withdrew due to a right hip injury. Meanwhile, Bencic, who won the title in 2019, moved forward when wild card Sara Bejlek had to pull out following an abdominal injury.
Top seed Elena Rybakina maintained her impressive early-season form by comfortably defeating Kimberly Birrell 6-1, 6-2. Rybakina will next meet Antonia Ruzic, the lucky loser who topped Emma Raducanu and then secured a tough three-set win over Anastasia Zakharova 6-1, 6-7(2-7), 6-1.
Iva Jovic’s Rising Career Trajectory
At just 18 years old, Iva Jovic overcame Diana Shnaider 6-4, 1-6, 6-0 to advance. She now faces the tournament’s fourth seed, Jessica Pegula. Jovic has made notable progress in the rankings, climbing from No. 167 a year ago to the top 50 after capturing her first WTA title in Guadalajara.
Within months, she reached significant milestones including a final in Hobart, a semi-final in Auckland, and a quarter-final appearance at the Australian Open, which propelled her into the top 20.
Even though my ranking is where it is right now, I still feel very new on the tour,
Jovic said.
There’s a lot of girls that I haven’t played yet. I do feel like there’s a lot I still need to learn. But obviously it’s nice when you feel you’re still developing, but you’re already in a nice place. I’ve earned my spot to be in these nice places and hopefully it can stay this way.
When asked about seeking advice from her idol Novak Djokovic, Jovic expressed some nervousness.
Well, I hope… I don’t know if I’m brave enough to do that,
she admitted.
I’m still a little nervous when I talk to him. He’s definitely my idol, but yeah, I see him at every corner.
I see him on every screen. But just try to be like Novak. I’m going to keep it that simple.
Alcaraz Advances in Qatar Open
Meanwhile in Doha, Carlos Alcaraz overcame Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 7-6(5) to maintain a strong start to the 2026 season. The 22-year-old, who recently became the youngest man in history to complete the Career Grand Slam at the Australian Open, faced set points in the tie-break but ultimately secured his 150th hard-court tour-level victory and extended his undefeated streak to 8-0 this year.
Stefanos Tsitsipas also advanced easily with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Moez Echargui and is now scheduled for a high-stakes second-round match against Daniil Medvedev.
Implications of the Dubai Wins
Coco Gauff’s success in Dubai marks an important step toward regaining her competitive form after early exits in recent tournaments. Facing a strong opponent like Elise Mertens will test Gauff’s resilience further as she seeks to build momentum in the WTA circuit. Iva Jovic’s steady rise also highlights the emergence of new talent posing fresh challenges in women’s tennis. Meanwhile, top players such as Elena Rybakina and former champions Andreeva and Bencic continue to demonstrate their experience and strength in the field.
As the tournament progresses, these matchups will play a key role in shaping the landscape of women’s tennis leading into the rest of the season, with expectations mounting for thrilling contests in Dubai and beyond.
