Coco Gauff Reaches Dubai Championships Semi-Finals with Straight-Set Victory

Coco Gauff continued her impressive start to the 2026 season by advancing to the semi-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships with a dominant 6-3, 6-1 victory over former world No. 4 Caroline Garcia on Thursday evening.

The 21-year-old American, currently ranked No. 6 in the world, needed just 79 minutes to dispatch the French veteran in what was arguably her most complete performance of the tournament so far. Gauff's aggressive baseline play and improved net coverage proved too much for Garcia, who struggled to find her rhythm throughout the match.

Gauff broke Garcia's serve early in the first set and never looked back, winning 78% of her first-serve points and converting four of her six break point opportunities. The 2023 US Open champion displayed the kind of mature, tactical tennis that has become her hallmark since working with new coach Brad Gilbert.

"I felt really good out there tonight," Gauff said in her on-court interview. "Caroline is such a tough opponent with that big forehand, so I knew I had to stay aggressive and not let her dictate the points. I'm really pleased with how I executed my game plan."

The victory sets up a mouth-watering semi-final clash with either defending champion Iga Swiatek or rising star Linda Noskova, who were scheduled to play their quarter-final match later Thursday evening. Gauff has won three of her last four meetings against Swiatek and will be confident of reaching her first Dubai final.

Gauff's run in Dubai comes on the back of a strong showing at the Australian Open last month, where she reached the fourth round before falling to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka. The American has now won 12 of her last 15 matches on hard courts and appears to be finding her best form ahead of the upcoming Indian Wells and Miami tournaments.

The Dubai Tennis Championships has traditionally been a happy hunting ground for American players, with Serena Williams winning the title twice during her illustrious career. Gauff will be hoping to add her name to that prestigious list when the tournament concludes this weekend.

With her improved serve and enhanced court coverage clearly on display, Gauff looks well-positioned to make a deep run at next month's Indian Wells tournament, where she will be among the top seeds and one of the favorites for the title.