Coco Gauff Battles Through Errors, Saves Three Match Points to Reach Dubai Quarters

Coco Gauff staged a dramatic late escape to reach the Dubai quarter-finals, having earlier survived an error-filled second-round win over Anna Kalinskaya and praising Alexandra Eala’s fans as "great for the sport. "

Coco Gauff survives three match points to make Dubai quarters

In a match headline that captured the tournament's drama, Coco Gauff recovered from three match points down to defeat Elise Mertens and secure a place in the Dubai quarter-finals. The comeback win completed a sequence of tough matches for Gauff at the event and delivered the decisive result she needed to progress deeper into the draw.

Error-strewn victory over Kalinskaya labelled a "confidence boost"

Earlier in the tournament, Gauff advanced through the second round with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Anna Kalinskaya. The match was far from tidy: Kalinskaya took a medical timeout for treatment on her left leg while trailing 4-3 in the opening set and was unable to recover fully. Statistically the match was lopsided in unforced errors — Kalinskaya amassed 45 unforced errors to just 11 winners, while Gauff finished with 33 unforced errors and 12 double faults of her own.

Gauff acknowledged the imperfections after the win, calling it "not the prettiest win but... enough today" and describing the result as a "confidence boost" as she attempts to regain stronger form. She noted the windy conditions and both players' struggles with consistency, adding that winning when not at her best was something she was particularly proud of.

Comments on Alexandra Eala’s fans: "great for the sport"

Off the court, Gauff also commented positively on fan engagement, saying that Alexandra Eala’s supporters are "great for the sport. " The remark highlighted the growing energy around emerging talent and the role fans play in shaping the tournament atmosphere.

Between the gritty, error-laden victory over Kalinskaya and the late-match resilience against Mertens, Coco Gauff's path in Dubai has combined uneven tennis with timely mental toughness. Her progression to the quarter-finals follows a stretch of mixed form, and the recent results offer a blend of warning signs and encouraging signs as she moves forward in the event.