In the second round of the Qatar Open, Coco Gauff, ranked third in the world, lost to Marta Kostyuk in 73 minutes.
At the WTA 1,000 event in Doha, the 21st-ranked Ukrainian rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the second set to win 6-2 7-5.
Gauff, who was playing for the first time since losing to Paula Badosa in the Australian Open quarterfinals last month, was given a bye in the opening round and suffered her second straight loss.
The 2023 US Open champion only managed eight victories and was defeated by 39 unforced errors and seven double faults.
Prior to face Kostyuk, Gauff had won her previous 17 games against opponents who weren’t in the top 20.
The winner of an all-Polish match between Magda Linette and Magdalena Frech will now take against the 22-year-old.
Jasmine Paolini, the runner-up at the French Open and Wimbledon last year, upset Caroline Garcia 6-3 6-4, while former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina defeated American Peyton Stearns 6-2 6-4.
After defeating Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 6-2 6-3, Linda Noskova advanced to the round of 16, where she will face three-time reigning champion Iga Swiatek.
ALSO READ:
Kenneth Okonkwo Leaves The LP, Claiming The Party Isn’t Prepared For The 2027 Election.
