Gauff triumphs through controversy, reaching Dubai quarters

In a thrilling match at the Dubai Tennis Championships, Coco Gauff showcased her resilience, battling through adversity to secure a quarterfinal spot. Facing Karolina Pliskova, Gauff found herself trailing after losing the first set but turned the tide with a determined comeback, winning 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.

The turning point came when, leading 4-2 in the second set, Gauff’s first serve at deuce was called out, only for her successful challenge to result in a replay instead of the awarded point. A heated exchange with chair umpire Pierre Bacchi ensued, as Gauff’s repeated requests to speak to a supervisor were denied.

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Despite the controversy, Gauff composed herself, winning the replayed point and using the incident as fuel for her performance. Reflecting on the moment, she admitted, “It definitely gave me some adrenaline. Luckily I was able to overcome that pretty quickly. I’m glad I was able to reset. I think it just fuelled me.”

Acknowledging the commonality of mistakes in tennis, Gauff emphasized the importance of staying calm and not letting a single point dictate the outcome. Looking ahead, the third-seeded Gauff is set to face Anna Kalinskaya in the quarterfinals, poised to continue her impressive run in the tournament.