Gauff a Dubai survivor amid injury chaos

Coco Gauff broke a dismal Tuesday pattern at the WTA Dubai event, actually finishing a match on a day organisers of the 1000-level event might prefer to forget.

The third seed who exited in her opening match here a year ago, got into the third round 6-4, 6-4 over injured opponent Anna Kalinskaya to leave the event at least one major name to draw upon.

The tournament was rocked by the late withdrawals of the top two in the world, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, a move which left the tournament director fuming.

They still have Melbourne title winner Elena Rybakina, defending champion Mirra Andreeva and Gauff.

Tuesday’s programme at the Aviation club was marred by two walkovers and a mid-match injury pullout.

German  Ella Seidel retired after dropping the opening set 6-0 against Jaqueline Cristian due to illness.

There were also walkovers for Andreeva and 2019 winner Belinda Bencic.

Gauff was hardly tested by her opening-round opponent, with Kalinskaya treated several times on her right hip.

Gauff, who lost in the Australian Open quarters to Elina Svitolina, has had her gripes about flying halfway around the world from her Florida base so soon after the Grand Slam.

Gauff said she was just pleased to get by for victory. “It wasn’t the prettiest win, but it was enough for today.

“It was pretty windy, it felt very open on (one), so I was trying to adjust a lot and was struggling with consistency. Every time I’ve been here, it’s not been windy so today was different.”

 The seed now plays Elise Mertens for a place in the quarter-finals after the Belgian defeated 14th seed Emma Navarro 6-2, 6-2 in 75 minutes.

The American lost last week in her Doha start.

“The biggest struggle is obviously you’re in Australia for, like, a month. You go home and you basically have to leave and come back here and get adjusted all over again,” she said.

“Maybe the transition after Australia might be tough for some players. I know some players decided to miss these two tournaments, which maybe in the future,is something I’ll consider.

“There’s no point in me coming if I’m going to keep losing first round. I’m going to have to figure out the right balance for me, coming to Dubai.”

Main photo:- Coco Gauff lost to Elina Svitolina in Melbourne – by ISF Ltd