Rejuvenated Gauff storms past Eala to book Dubai semifinal berth

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Survival mode turned into statement tennis for Coco Gauff.

Fresh off escaping three match points in the previous round, the American returned Thursday looking sharper and far more assertive. That transformation showed immediately as she dismantled Alexandra Eala, 6-0, 6-2, on Thursday Feb. 19, to punch her ticket to the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships.

The quarterfinal lasted just 67 minutes, a stark contrast to the turbulence Gauff navigated earlier in the week. This time, she dictated nearly every exchange and kept the previously electric night-session crowd largely subdued.

It was also her first victory over Eala at the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz tier, sending her into her second semifinal appearance at the Dubai stop.

The American surge in Dubai is real — and Coco Gauff just raised the bar. Semifinal spot secured with a statement win. [photo credit: WTA Instagram]

“I’ve improved each match,” Gauff said in her on-court interview. “I definitely wasn’t in good spirits before entering this tournament, but one match can change everything. I honestly didn’t think I would be in the semis at the start of this, but I’m happy that I’m here.”

American trio makes WTA 1000 history again

Gauff did not advance alone. Fellow Americans Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova also secured semifinal spots earlier in the day after grinding through separate three-set battles.

Pegula outlasted Clara Tauson in a tight contest, while Anisimova dethroned defending champion Mirra Andreeva to complete the American surge.

Their collective advance marks only the third time since the WTA 1000 format began in 2009 that three Americans have reached the semifinals of the same event, following similar feats in Beijing 2025 and Toronto 2024.

Gauff’s level jumps at the right time

Unlike the earlier American matches, Gauff’s outing was straightforward. She controlled the baseline exchanges early and repeatedly pressured Eala’s service games to prevent the Filipina from building rhythm.

Eala had energized Dubai crowds throughout the week, but sustaining that momentum proved difficult against Gauff’s depth and consistency. The American’s clean execution kept the contest from developing into extended, momentum-swinging rallies.

With her level clearly trending upward after a shaky start to the tournament, Gauff now heads into the semifinals carrying both confidence and momentum.