Coco Gauff Advances to Dubai Championships Semifinals with Straight-Set Victory

Coco Gauff continued her impressive start to 2026 with a commanding 6-4, 6-2 victory over two-time major champion Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Sunday. The 21-year-old American will face either Aryna Sabalenka or Emma Raducanu in Thursday's semifinal.

Gauff, seeded third in Dubai, controlled the match from the baseline with her improved serve and aggressive return game. She won 79% of her first-serve points and converted four of seven break point opportunities against the experienced Belarusian, who was seeking her first WTA semifinal appearance since last year's US Open.

"I felt really comfortable out there today," Gauff said in her on-court interview. "Victoria is such a tough competitor, and she's been playing really well this week. I'm happy with how I stayed focused and executed my game plan. The hard work in the offseason is paying off."

The match's turning point came late in the first set when Gauff broke Azarenka's serve at 4-4, then held her own to take the opening frame. The American carried that momentum into the second set, breaking twice early to build a 4-0 lead that she never relinquished.

Gauff's victory extends her winning streak to eight matches, including her title run at the Adelaide International earlier this year. The former world No. 3 has looked increasingly confident on hard courts, implementing tactical improvements under new coach Pere Riba that have enhanced her all-court game.

"Coco played at a very high level today," Azarenka acknowledged. "She's clearly been working hard on all aspects of her game, and it shows. Her serve was much better than when we played last year, and she was very aggressive on the returns. She deserved to win."

With this semifinal appearance, Gauff moves closer to reclaiming her spot in the top five of the WTA rankings. Her next opponent will be determined by the evening's quarterfinal between defending champion Sabalenka and rising British star Raducanu, promising an intriguing semifinal matchup regardless of the outcome.