Coco Gauff exited the 2026 Qatar Open after a second-round upset this week, with Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto ousting the world No. 5 6-4, 6-2.
At No. 57 in the WTA rankings, Cocciaretto entered the main draw only after McCartney Kessler withdrew, having lost in the final qualifying round. Cocciaretto subsequently dismantled Gauff with aggressive early-ball striking and precise backhands throughout both sets.
The match's defining moment arrived at 3-3, when Cocciaretto won a 33-shot rally to take control. She closed out the set by saving break points in each of her final two service games.
The second set went even smoother for Cocciaretto. The 25-year-old Italian broke immediately, cruising home as Gauff's unforced error count climbed to 39.
"She was just taking the ball early and crushing the ball," Gauff said postmatch.
"I think I need to figure out how to play against players like her who hit super flat and take everything pretty much early. I think the last two matches have shown that I've been struggling with that."
The win marked Cocciaretto's third career Top 10 victory and her first at a WTA 1000 event outside a Grand Slam. She previously scored major upsets at both the 2023 French Open and last year's Wimbledon tournament.
Cocciaretto said she drew inspiration from Italian Olympic skier Sofia Goggia, after Goggia won bronze in Cortina this week. She next faces fellow American Ann Li for a spot in the quarterfinals.
What's next for US tennis star Coco Gauff?
After her early exit in Doha, Gauff now shifts her focus to the 2026 Dubai Championships. There she'll look to regain form as the WTA's hard-court Middle East swing continues.
With the 2026 Australian Open in the rearview mirror, this week's WTA rankings update reflected the season-opening Grand Slam's impact on tennis's top tier.
An exit from the Melbourne Slam's quarterfinals sent US star Coco Gauff skidding two spots to No. 5, as the newly crowned Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina took over Gauff's previous position at No. 3 alongside her second-career major tournament victory.
At the top of the WTA rankings, Australian Open finalist Aryna Sabalenka retained her world No. 1 status, followed by the similarly stable No. 2 Iga Świątek — despite the six-time Slam winner's own quarterfinals ousting.
On the flip side, 2025 champion Madison Keys fell six spots to No. 15, while young Canadian star Vicky Mboko and fan favorite Naomi Osaka each rose three spots to Nos. 13 and 14, respectively.
With Gauff's slight fall, No. 4 Amanda Anisimova now takes over as the top US talent after making her first Australian Open quarterfinals appearance last week.
No. 6 Jessica Pegula, No. 7 Mirra Andreeva, and No. 8 Jasmine Paolini all held steady, while new-No. 9 Belinda Bencic and new-No. 10 Elina Svitolina became the first two mothers to earn a Top 10 ranking at the same time.
"It's a dream to return to the WTA Top 10," Svitolina said after reaching her first Australian Open semifinal. "Doing it as a mother means so much to me. I'm proud of my fight and resilience."
Tennis legend Serena Williams publicly defended Coco Gauff following the young US star's viral racket-smashing moment at the Australian Open, offering support and advice to the world No. 3.
After Gauff suffered a 6-1, 6-2 quarterfinal loss to Elina Svitolina in just 59 minutes on Tuesday, cameras captured her smashing her racket in frustration while walking through the Rod Laver Arena tunnel. The 21-year-old had intentionally left the court hoping to avoid public view, but the TV broadcast chose to air the moment live.
Serena Williams quickly came to Gauff's defense on social media, echoing sentiments shared by her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. The 44-year-old assured Gauff that passion and caring matter, and there's nothing wrong with hating to lose.
Serena Williams then playfully offered to teach Gauff how to demolish a racket in one swing, referencing her own history with similar outbursts during her legendary career.
Gauff responded to the criticism by emphasizing she deliberately avoids breaking rackets on court and only did so in what she believed was a private space. She called for increased privacy for players, noting that the locker room serves as the Melbourne tournament's only truly private area.
Williams faced similar scrutiny throughout her decorated career, garnering attention for emotional displays including racket-smashing incidents resulting in fines. Despite occasional controversies, she became one of the greatest athletes of all time, winning 23 Grand Slam singles titles and holding the No. 1 ranking for 186 consecutive weeks.
Jessica Pegula and Iga Świątek also voiced support for Gauff, agreeing that cameras have become too intrusive at tournaments. The incident subsequently sparked broader conversations about player privacy and mental health in professional tennis.
The 2026 Australian Open semifinals are set, after a round of quarterfinals teeming with upsets sent three top seeds packing.
World No. 3 Coco Gauff opened the floodgates early Tuesday morning, falling to No. 12 Elina Svitolina 6-1, 6-2, as the 31-year-old Ukrainian advanced to her first-ever Australian Open semifinal.
Gauff wasn't the round's only victim, however, as No. 2 Iga Świątek saw her career slam dreams deferred at the hands of No. 5 Elena Rybakina in a 7-5, 6-1 Tuesday evening result.
The Melbourne Grand Slam's US contingent ultimately dwindled from four quarterfinalists down to one on Tuesday night, when No. 6 Jessica Pegula ousted fellow US star No. 4 Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6(1) to reach her first-ever Australian Open semifinal.
"It's awesome," the 31-year-old said after the win. "I feel like I play really good tennis here…. I've been waiting for the time when I can break through."
Only No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka avoided falling to a lower seed, defeating US teenager No. 27 Iva Jović in tidy fashion 6-3, 6-0 on Monday.
How to watch the 2026 Australian Open semifinals
The 2026 Australian Open semis start at 3:30 AM ET on Thursday, with No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka facing No. 12 Elina Svitolina before No. 6 Jessica Pegula takes on No. 5 Elena Rybakina in the following match.
Both semifinals will air live on ESPN.
US tennis star Coco Gauff called for increased player privacy after cameras captured her smashing her racket following her quarterfinal exit from the 2026 Australian Open.
World No. 2 Coco Gauff suffered a 6-1, 6-2 defeat to Ukraine’s No. 12 Elina Svitolina in Tuesday’s fourth-round match. The clash lasted 59 minutes, with Gauff struggling to find her rhythm throughout the contest. The 21-year-old finished with just three winners while racking up 26 unforced errors and serving five double-faults.
Following the loss, Gauff attempted to find a secluded area to vent her frustrations. Tournament cameras followed her, filming as she repeatedly smashed her racket on the ground. The footage spread quickly across social media.
Addressing the incident afterward, Coco Gauff argued that such raw, emotional moments should not be treated as public entertainment.
"Certain moments — the same thing happened to Aryna [Sabalenka] after I played her in the final of the US Open — I feel like they don’t need to broadcast," Gauff said, referencing No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka's post-2023 US Open meltdown.
"So maybe some conversations can be had. Because I feel like, at this tournament, the only private place we have is the locker room."
Gauff explained that she avoids lashing out in front of fans, saying some things should remain off-limits to broadcasters.
"I know I’m emotional, so I just took the minute to go and do that," she continued. "I try not to do it on-court in front of kids and things like that. But I do know I need to let out that emotion."
Despite her technical struggles, Coco Gauff remained focused on the future. She stressed scrapping out wins on bad days, citing US tennis icon Serena Williams as inspiration when handling difficult matches.
Meanwhile, Svitolina moves on to face Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals.
What's next for Coco Gauff after her 2026 Australian Open ousting
The WTA Calendar next turns to the Middle East Swing, with Gauff expected to join the field at the 2026 Qatar Open.
The WTA 1000 Doha tournament starts February 8th, live on Tennis Channel.
The US is flooding the quarterfinals of the 2026 Australian Open, with half of eight women still standing in the Grand Slam representing the United States.
World No. 3 Coco Gauff, No. 4 Amanda Anisimova, No. 6 Jessica Pegula, and No. 27 Iva Jović all advanced from the weekend's fourth round, joining No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 2 Iga Świątek, No. 5 Elena Rybakina, and No. 12 Elina Svitolina in Monday and Tuesday's quarterfinals.
"I'm just trusting the level that I have been able to put out and hopefully that will be enough," 18-year-old Jović said as she gears up for her Monday night clash with Sabalenka — a two-time winner (2023, 2024) of the Melbourne Slam.
Pegula's success, meanwhile, came at the expense of her US teammate and the reigning Australian Open champion, No. 9 Madison Keys, whom she ousted in straight sets in the Round of 16 on Sunday.
Even more, Pegula's quarterfinal matchup will again feature friendly fire as she takes on Anisimova on Tuesday night.
"Sucks that one American has to go out in the quarterfinals," Anisimova said. "Jess is such a great player, so I'm sure it's going to be a great battle."
How to watch the 2026 Australian Open quarterfinals
The Australian Open quarterfinals start at 7:30 PM ET on Monday, when No. 27 Jović takes on No. 1 Sabalenka before No. 3 Gauff's 3 AM ET Tuesday matchup with No. 12 Svitolina.
No. 6 Pegula's clash with No. 4 Anisimova, as well as No. 5 Rybakina vs. No. 2 Świątek will close out the quarterfinals early Wednesday morning.
All matches from the Melbourne Slam air live across ESPN platforms.
The next generation of tennis stars are on the rise, with youth-powered upsets rattling this week's third round of the 2026 Australian Open.
No. 8 Jasmine Paolini became the season's first fallen Top 10 contender, as the Italian standout fell 6-2, 7-6(3) to US 18-year-old and world No. 27 Iva Jović early Friday morning.
No. 14 Clara Tauson and No. 10 Belinda Bencic also bowed out of the Melbourne Grand Slam thanks to a pair of 19-year-olds, with Canada's No. 16 Victoria Mboko and Czechia's No. 126 Nikola Bartunkova ousting the Danish and Swiss stars, respectively, on Thursday to advance to this weekend's fourth round.
Even more, Mboko and Bartunkova were two of five teenagers featuring in the Grand Slam's third round, as the WTA establishment clashed with its future.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old star Coco Gauff survived a three-set scare against fellow US talent No. 70 Hailey Baptiste, with the world No. 3 eventually reaching her fourth straight Australian Open Round of 16 behind Thursday's 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 come-from-behind win.
"On the serve, I was just trying to be aggressive with my placement and not be too passive," Gauff said postmatch. "Honestly, I'm out there trying to figure out that balance along with everybody else."
How to watch the 2026 Australian Open
The third round of the 2026 Australian Open wraps on Friday night, with WTA stars like No. 2 Iga Świątek, No. 4 Amanda Anisimova, and No. 17 Naomi Osaka all aiming to advance.
Friday's action kicks off with defending champion No. 9 Madison Keys taking on Czechia's Karolína Plíšková while fellow US standout No. 6 Jessica Pegula faces No. 101 Oksana Selekhmeteva at 6:30 PM ET.
All matches from the Melbourne Slam air live across ESPN platforms.
While competing at the 2026 Australian Open this week, US tennis star Coco Gauff is giving back to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), with the world No. 3 WTA player announcing a $150,000 donation to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to fund HBCU tennis scholarships on Tuesday.
"Education has the power to change lives, and I hope this gift will help students achieve their dreams," said Gauff in a Tuesday statement.
Even more, this week's donation marks the two-time Grand Slam champion's second UNCF contribution in as many years, with her $100,000 pledge in 2025 bringing Gauff's total gift to $250,000.
"I feel like HBCU tennis a lot of times doesn't get the funding that they need," Gauff said after advancing to Thursday night's Australian Open third round. "I would always try to uplift marginalized communities and support where I can."
One of the youngest major donors in organization's 80-year history, the 21-year-old star's Coco Gauff Scholarship Program has already sponsored multiple HBCU tennis athletes.
"My family has a deep-rooted history with HBCUs," Gauff wrote in a 2025 press release. "As a young Black athlete, I understand how impactful it is to see people who look like me thriving in both sports and education…. My hope is that this scholarship gives more young Black players the confidence to chase their dreams, knowing they have a strong community behind them and a bright future ahead."
The world's top tennis stars are rolling in Melbourne, as the first round of the 2026 Australian Open wrapped early Tuesday morning with only a few ranked seeds suffering early defeats.
World No. 15 Emma Navarro was the highest-ranked US player to fall in the first round, with the 24-year-old exiting the season's first Grand Slam in a 6-3, 3-6, 3-6 loss to Poland's No. 50 Magda Linette on Sunday.
No. 11 Ekaterina Alexandrova also stumbled in the first round, with her Melbourne run ending in a three-set loss to Turkey's No. 112 Zeynep Sönmez on Saturday before No. 68 Peyton Stearns ousted fellow US star and 2020 Australian Open champion No. 30 Sofia Kenin in straight sets on Sunday.
Many contenders still remain in the hunt, however, as the entire WTA Top 10 cruised through their opening matchups to advance to the Slam's second round.
That said, fans will miss out on one highly anticipated showdown, as wild card entry Venus Williams's first-round loss ended the 45-year-old tennis icon's path to a second-round clash with US favorite No. 3 Coco Gauff.
How to watch the second round of the 2026 Australian Open
The 2026 Australian Open continues when the Slam's second round kicks off with a Tuesday night slate that features stars like No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 3 Coco Gauff, and No. 7 Jasmine Paolini.
Tuesday's action begins at 7 PM ET, with all Melbourne matches airing live across ESPN platforms.
The first Grand Slam of 2026 has arrived, as the main draw of the Australian Open hits the court on Saturday evening, promising some early-round fireworks.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka enters as the tournament favorite, though the rest of the WTA Top 10 promises to give her a run for her money — as No. 2 Iga Świątek chases the only major tournament title still eluding her.
Meanwhile, No. 9 Madison Keys will attempt to defend her 2025 crown, as fellow US products No. 3 Coco Gauff, No. 4 Amanda Anisimova, and No. 6 Jessica Pegula also locked down top seeds.
Another US superstar will return this weekend, with 45-year-old Venus Williams following up her impressive 2025 performances by accepting a wild-card entry to her first Australian Open in five years.
"Even though I've been on tour for a long time, this is also still my first experience as [reigning champion]," Keys said. "I'm really just trying to soak in all of the really cool fun parts."
How to watch the 2026 Australian Open
The 2026 Australian Open begins at 7 PM ET on Saturday, with Williams as well as top-seed Sabalenka and world No. 7 Jasmine Paolini set to face their first opponents on the first day of the Slam's main draw.
The second day of first-round matches will see the rest of the WTA elite in action, as No. 2 Świątek, No. 3 Gauff, No. 4 Anisimova, No. 6 Pegula, and No. 9 Keys — as well as No. 5 Elena Rybakina, No. 8 Mirra Andreeva, and No. 10 Belinda Bencic — will hit the hardcourt in Melbourne starting at 7 PM ET on Sunday.
All matches in the 2026 Australian Open — from the first round through the women's final on Saturday, January 31st — will air live across ESPN platforms.