Coco Gauff suffered a shock early exit from the Qatar Open on Tuesday with a straight-sets defeat by Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, whereas Elena Rybakina eased into the final 16.
Former US Open champion Gauff blew a wholesome benefit within the second set as Kostyuk sealed a 6-2, 7-5 victory and a third-round assembly with the winner of an all-Polish tie between Magda Linette and Magdalena Frech.
Gauff, enjoying for the primary time since January 21’s quarterfinal loss to Paula Badosa on the Australian Open, served seven double-faults in an erratic show.
The American made a horrible begin, slipping 4-1 behind after dropping her serve twice.
Gauff was damaged once more within the eighth sport as Kostyuk secured the primary set in simply half an hour.
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The world quantity three hit again with a break en path to a 4-2 lead within the second set as she began to search out her rhythm.
However Kostyuk battled again, profiting from an error-strewn Gauff efficiency, which ended when she served two double-faults to be damaged for the fifth time.
“The double-faults made it simpler for me… I’m very completely satisfied that it led to two units,” Kostyuk advised BeIN Sports activities.
Rybakina, who misplaced to eventual winner Belinda Bencic within the Abu Dhabi semifinals final week, noticed off Payton Stearns in her opening match.
The fifth seed cruised to a 6-2, 6-4 win regardless of a late wobble to arrange a third-round tie towards both Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva or Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova.
Rybakina led 5-0 within the second set however missed three match factors to take it 6-0 after which briefly fell aside as Stearns dragged the set again on serve.
The previous Wimbledon champion belatedly obtained over the road on her fifth match level.
Jasmine Paolini, final yr’s French Open and Wimbledon runner-up, additionally made a profitable begin to her marketing campaign with a 6-3, 6-4 victory towards Caroline Garcia within the second spherical.
Czech teenager Linda Noskova earned a last-16 tie towards three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva.