Coco Gauff Captures Dubai Championships with Straight-Sets Victory

Coco Gauff continued her remarkable rise in women tennis by capturing the Dubai Tennis Championships on Sunday, defeating world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 in a dominant straight-sets performance at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre.

The 21-year-old American played inspired tennis throughout the final, showcasing the improved consistency and court coverage that has made her one of the most dangerous players on the WTA Tour. Gauff broke Sabalenka serve early in both sets and never looked back, controlling rallies with her improved forehand and exceptional defensive skills.

Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, struggled to find her rhythm against Gauff aggressive return game and court positioning. The Belarusian committed 31 unforced errors compared to just 18 from Gauff, who has clearly worked on reducing her error count since hiring coach Brad Gilbert last summer.

This marks Gauff third WTA 1000 title, following her victories at Cincinnati and the US Open in 2023. The Dubai triumph also represents her first title of the 2026 season and moves her up to No. 3 in the world rankings, matching her career-high position.

I feel like I am playing the best tennis of my career right now, Gauff said during the trophy ceremony. My team and I have worked so hard on making my game more complete, and it is paying off in moments like this. Beating players like Aryna gives me so much confidence going into the bigger tournaments.

The victory comes at a perfect time for Gauff as the tennis world turns its attention to the upcoming Indian Wells and Miami tournaments. With her improved serve and consistent groundstrokes, many experts believe the young American is poised for an even bigger breakthrough season in 2026, potentially challenging for multiple Grand Slam titles including a return to the US Open final on home soil.