Gauff hopes to celebrate 17th birthday by making Dubai final

Making her debut at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, American teenager Coco Gauff survived two match points to outlast Ekaterina Alexandrova in her opening round match.

The recent Adelaide semifinalist gutted out tough win, as she battled past Alexandrova in a 7-6(3) 2-6 7-6(8) first round victory. It was a shaky performance from Gauff, as she served for the match at 5-2, 5-4 and 6-5 in the final set. The 16-year old American even held four match points at 5-4, but was unable to convert as Alexandrova fought back to level the match and take it to a tiebreak.

The ensuing tiebreaker saw Gauff stave off two match points 5-6 and 7-8, before winning the final three points to prevail in two hours and 41 minutes.

"There were times when we both could have thrown in the towel and gave up, but we both were mentally fighting," Gauff said in a post-match interview. "I think it's just one of those that you're happy that it's over, and happy that you fought through it."

Ranked at a career-high of World No.38 following her spectacular performance at Adelaide, Gauff will turn 17 on Saturday; the day of the Dubai singles final.

"That'd be a pretty good birthday gift, to make it to the final," revealed Gauff.

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