Second seed Coco GAUFF thrashed by Katerina SINIAKOVA, dumped out at opening hurdle of Qatar Open

Coco Gauff made her return for the first time since losing out in the semi-finals of the 2024 Australian Open, but was beaten with ease by Katerina Siniakova in a shock defeat at the Qatar Open in a poor display from the US Open champion.

Gauff came into the post Australian Open portion of the season having barely put a foot wrong since prior to the US Open win. Albeit she was poor at times during the Australian Open with the draw opening up before she was well beaten by Aryna Sabalenka. So it is likely not as much of a surprise as perhaps expected.

But still Siniakova eased through against the second seed in a 6-2, 6-4 win. In a one hour, 22 minute win, the Czech ace who sits just inside the world's top 40 had to also battle back. In the first set, she broke to make it 4-1 albeit after going 40-15 up initially. But Gauff never had a chance to win the game despite it going to advantage.

Siniakova was broken straight back to love, but once again despite a struggle, it was a mirror image and then Siniakova turned the tables on Gauff by sealing it 6-2. In the second set, it was even more of a lopsided occurrence as Gauff went 4-0 up and Siniakova won six games on the spin to seal the win handing her a virtual bagel in one of her worst losses in a long time. It also opens up the draw with Danielle Collins next up and the winner facing Marketa Vondrousova or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for a spot in the semi-finals.