Anna Kalinskaya is set to face Coco Gauff in the second round of the 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships. This will be their second meeting on the WTA Tour, with their first encounter also in Dubai in 2024, when the Russian triumphed over the former World No. 2. Ahead of their rematch this year, Kalinskaya shared her thoughts on competing against Gauff.
Anna Kalinskaya Makes Her Feelings Known on Facing Coco Gauff Again at the Dubai Tennis Championships
In 2024, Kalinskaya earned her spot in the main draw of the WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai by winning her matches in the qualifiers. In the main draw, she defeated Storm Hunter, Cristina Bucșa, and Jeļena Ostapenko in the first three rounds before eliminating Gauff in the quarterfinals. She then overcame Iga Świątek in the semifinals before finishing as the runner-up to Jasmine Paolini.
The former World No. 11 began her campaign at the 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships by defeating Ostapenko with a score of 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the first round. In the second round, she will face third-seeded Gauff.
Following her first-round victory, during the post-match on-court interview, Kalinskaya spoke about her upcoming match against Gauff. She described the former World No. 2 as a “fighter” and stated that their match would be “tough.” The Russian also recalled their 2024 encounter, noting that they played at a “great level.”
“She’s such a fighter. It’s gonna be a tough one for sure. I played against her actually here two years ago. It was a great level of the match. I’m just looking forward and I’m very excited,” Kalinskaya said.
Anna Kalinskaya on facing Coco Gauff next in Dubai:
“She’s such a fighter. It’s gonna be a tough one for sure. I played against her actually here two years ago. It was a great level of the match. I’m just looking forward and I’m very excited.” ❤️ pic.twitter.com/3YhuUurV8N
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 16, 2026
Meanwhile, Gauff came into the 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships after competing at the Qatar Open, where she was seeded fourth. She began her campaign in the second round after receiving a bye in the first round. However, she faced lucky loser Elisabetta Cocciaretto in her opening match and lost 4-6, 2-6.
The two-time Grand Slam champion achieved her best result at the Dubai tournament in 2023. She won against Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Elena Rybakina in the second and third rounds, respectively. In the quarterfinals, she overcame compatriot Madison Keys before being eliminated by the eventual runner-up, Świątek, in the semifinals.
