Coco Gauff, the No. 4 seed and former Australian Open quarterfinalist, faced a challenging start to her 2026 season at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open, suffering a 6-4, 6-2 defeat to Italian player Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Gauff, ranked No. 5, expressed frustration over her recent form, noting that her practice efforts are not translating into match performance. She highlighted issues with her forehand, which has been inconsistent, producing errors ranging from blasts to shanks, especially on slower hard courts where her defensive game is less effective. Despite her struggles, Gauff remains optimistic about her future, aiming to improve her mental resilience and adapt her game against flat hitters like Cocciaretto. The match marked her second consecutive loss since her Australian Open run, raising concerns about her ability to maintain her top-tier performance amidst ongoing technical and mental adjustments. Gauff's next tournament will be the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, where she hopes to regain her form and confidence.