Gauff dumped out of Qatar Open by Kostyuk

VANGUARD

Coco Gauff suffered a surprise early exit from the Qatar Open on Tuesday with a straight-sets defeat by Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, while Elena Rybakina eased into the last 16.

Former US Open champion Gauff blew a healthy advantage in the second set as Kostyuk sealed a 6-2, 7-5 victory and a third-round meeting with the winner of an all-Polish tie between Magda Linette and Magdalena Frech.

Gauff, playing for the first time since January 21’s quarter-final loss to Paula Badosa at the Australian Open, served seven double-faults in an erratic display.