Coco Gauff Advances to Dubai Semifinals After Stunning Upset Victory

Coco Gauff continued her remarkable early-season surge at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Thursday, defeating world No. 2 Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-3 in a stunning quarterfinal upset that announced her arrival as a genuine threat to tennis' elite players.

The 22-year-old American, currently ranked No. 8 in the world, played arguably the best tennis of her young career to outclass the Polish star in just 87 minutes on the hard courts of the Aviation Club Tennis Centre. Gauff's aggressive baseline play and improved serve proved too much for Swiatek, who had won their previous three encounters.

Gauff broke serve early in both sets and never looked back, displaying the kind of composure and shot-making ability that has made her one of tennis' most promising young talents. Her first serve percentage of 78% kept Swiatek constantly under pressure, while her return game neutralized the former world No. 1's powerful forehand.

The victory marks Gauff's most significant win since capturing her first Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2023. After a disappointing 2025 season that saw her struggle with consistency, the young American appears to have found her rhythm again under new coach Jean-Christophe Faurel, who joined her team in December.

Swiatek, who had been seeking her third Dubai title, struggled to find answers to Gauff's improved all-court game. The Polish star made 28 unforced errors compared to Gauff's 19, and managed to convert just one of her six break point opportunities throughout the match.

Gauff now faces either Aryna Sabalenka or Jelena Ostapenko in Saturday's semifinal, as she bids to reach her first WTA 1000 final since Indian Wells in 2024. With her confidence clearly restored and her game firing on all cylinders, the American teenager looks poised to make a serious run at what would be her biggest title since her breakthrough Grand Slam victory.