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

Coco Gauff continued her impressive start to 2026 with a commanding 6-4, 6-2 victory over Greece's Maria Sakkari in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The 21-year-old American showcased the form that has made her one of the tour's most exciting young talents, controlling the match from start to finish with aggressive baseline play and tactical maturity beyond her years.

Gauff broke serve early in both sets, establishing control that she never relinquished. Her forehand was particularly effective throughout the 74-minute encounter, as she struck 24 winners compared to just 12 unforced errors. The statistics told the story of a player in complete command of her game.

"I felt really good out there today," Gauff said during her on-court interview. "Maria is always a tough opponent, but I was able to execute my game plan perfectly. I've been working hard in practice, and it's great to see that paying off in matches like this."

The victory extends Gauff's winning streak to eight matches, dating back to her triumph at the Adelaide International last month. She has now reached three WTA semifinals this season, demonstrating remarkable consistency in her performances across different surfaces and conditions.

Sakkari, ranked 12th in the world, struggled to find her rhythm against Gauff's aggressive style of play. The Greek player managed just two break point opportunities in the entire match, both of which were expertly saved by the American through clutch serving under pressure.

Gauff will face either world number two Aryna Sabalenka or Czech rising star Linda Fruhvirtova in the semifinals. The American enters that match as a slight favorite, buoyed by her recent form and the confidence that comes with playing some of the best tennis of her young career.

The Dubai Championships represents another opportunity for Gauff to add to her growing trophy collection, as she looks to build on what has already been a breakthrough season on the WTA Tour.