Thu Feb 13 12:20:00 UTC 2025: **Upsets at Qatar Open as Top Seeds Sabalenka and Gauff Crash Out**
Doha, Qatar – World number one Aryna Sabalenka and third-ranked Coco Gauff suffered shock second-round exits at the Qatar Open, marking a significant upset in the WTA 1000 tournament.
Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, fell to Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia in a hard-fought three-setter, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(7). Alexandrova, who previously defeated Emma Raducanu, displayed impressive resilience, overcoming two break deficits in the final set before clinching victory in the tiebreak. This follows Alexandrova’s recent WTA Tour title win in Austria. She will next face Belgium’s Elise Mertens.
Gauff, the reigning US Open champion, was also eliminated, losing to Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 7-5 in a match lasting just 73 minutes. Kostyuk rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the second set to secure the win. Gauff’s performance was hampered by seven double faults and 39 unforced errors. This is Gauff’s second consecutive defeat, following her Australian Open quarterfinal loss.
Other notable results include victories for former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, Jasmine Paolini, and three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur, who secured her first win against a top-10 opponent since last year’s Madrid Open. Jessica Pegula, the sixth seed, also advanced. Linda Noskova will next face three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek. The tournament continues with several other compelling matchups.
First Piper 