Coco Gauff Advances to Dubai Semifinals with Straight-Sets Victory

Coco Gauff continued her exceptional start to 2026 with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 victory over former world No. 3 Karolina Pliskova, securing her place in the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Thursday.

The 22-year-old American displayed the maturity and shot-making ability that has made her one of the most promising talents in women's tennis, breaking Pliskova's serve five times while dropping her own serve just once during the 78-minute encounter.

"I felt really comfortable out there today," Gauff said in her post-match interview. "I've been working hard on being more aggressive from the baseline, and it showed today. Karolina is such a dangerous player, so I'm really pleased with how I handled the pressure moments."

Gauff's victory extends her winning streak to nine matches, having claimed the title in Adelaide earlier this month. The current world No. 7 has now reached her fourth semifinal of the young season, signaling her intent to challenge for the biggest prizes in the sport.

Pliskova, who was looking to reach her first semifinal since returning from injury, struggled to find her rhythm against Gauff's relentless court coverage and precise shot placement. The Czech star managed just 15 winners compared to Gauff's 28, highlighting the American's dominance throughout.

"Coco played at a very high level today," Pliskova acknowledged. "She's clearly gained a lot of confidence this year. Her movement and decision-making have improved significantly since I last played her."

In the semifinals, Gauff will face either world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka or unseeded qualifier Anastasia Potapova, who were scheduled to play their quarterfinal match later Thursday evening.

With the French Open just three months away, Gauff's current form suggests she could be a serious contender for her second Grand Slam title.