Coco Gauff vs McCartney Kessler Prediction & Picks - WTA Dubai Tennis Championships

Prediction published on 2/18/25, 2:03 AM  by Lou Aguila | Modified on 2/18/25 at 2:05 AM in Tennis Picks

Still licking her wounds from her surprising exit at the WTA Qatar Open, Coco Gauff is bracing for another tough clash in the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Open as she takes on American rising star McCarthey Kessler on Tuesday. Weeks after her shocking loss in the quarterfinal of the 2025 Australian Open, Gauff absorbed another early exit in Qatar, losing to Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-2 7-5. The American could not find her flow throughout the match as he aggressive style of play was neutralized by Kostyuk’s tactical play. Gauff won just 22 points on her first serves and got broken five times by her Ukrainian foe. Kessler, meanwhile, pulled off a stunner after beating Amanda Anisimova, the reigning WTA Qatar Open champion, in straight sets, 6-2 6-3. Kessler, the 2025 Hobart International champion, dominated the exchanged by winning 89 percent of the first serves and breaking five times. The win also snapped her two-match losing skid.