Cocciaretto Stuns Gauff in Doha, Advances to WTA 1000 Last 16

Elisabetta Cocciaretto produced a remarkable upset by defeating Coco Gauff in the second round of the Qatar TotalEnergies Open. The Italian player, ranked No. 57 worldwide, stunned the No. 4 seed with a straight-sets victory, 6-4, 6-2. This win marks her third victory over a Top 10 player and her first outside of a Grand Slam event.

Cocciaretto Advances to WTA 1000 Last 16

This triumph propels Cocciaretto into the last 16 of a WTA 1000 tournament for the very first time. In her post-match interview, she acknowledged that her focus has also been on the Winter Olympics happening in Italy, stating, “I’m cheering for the Italian athletes.”

Match Highlights

• Cocciaretto landed 10 winners in the opening set, compared to Gauff’s four.
• She broke Gauff’s serve at a critical point, leading to a close first set.
• The match included a thrilling 33-shot rally showcasing both players’ skills.
• In the second set, Cocciaretto took an immediate lead and maintained her momentum.
• Gauff struggled with 39 unforced errors throughout the match.

Cocciaretto’s victory was aided by her aggressive playing style. She consistently took the ball early and positioned herself well on the baseline. After losing the first break, she regained it through determination and skill, closing the match decisively.

Gauff’s Reflection

Following the match, Gauff expressed her need to adapt her game against aggressive opponents like Cocciaretto. “I tried to be more aggressive, and I was hitting more unforced errors,” she admitted. Gauff hopes to refine her gameplay moving forward.

Cocciaretto’s Rising Star

This victory builds on Cocciaretto’s impressive season. Earlier, she secured her second WTA Tour title in Hobart. Despite losing in the final qualifying round at Doha, she entered the main draw as a lucky loser after another player withdrew.

Next, Cocciaretto will play against Ann Li. Both players seek a spot in their first WTA 1000 quarterfinal, highlighting the stakes rising around this emerging talent.

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