The early departure of Amanda Anisimova from the Qatar Open will significantly affect Coco Gauff.
Anisimova’s victory at the Qatar Open last year was the catalyst for a breakout season for the American.
However, her title defence ended before it began, as she was forced to retire from her first-round match against Karolina Pliskova.
Not only is this disappointing for Anisimova, but it also opens up an opportunity for Gauff to gain ground at the Qatar Open.
How Amanda Anisimova’s Qatar Open exit is set to help Coco Gauff
Anisimova was defending 1,000 ranking points from last year’s title, but her retirement against Pliskova has seen nearly all of them drop off.
With the loss of 990 points, she’s expected to fall out of the top five in the WTA rankings, dropping down to world number six.
This change also means Gauff will reclaim the American number one spot. Jessica Pegula withdrew from the Qatar Open, allowing Gauff to move ahead.
In the live rankings, Gauff holds a 470-point lead over Pegula and a 733-point advantage over Anisimova.
That gap could widen during this tournament, as the 21-year-old star has no points to defend in Doha after losing her only match there in 2025.
Coco Gauff set to face Elisabetta Cocciaretto in opening match at Qatar Open
Gauff will be aiming to reinforce her status as the top American player when she faces Elisabetta Cocciaretto in her first match of this year’s Qatar Open.
Despite Cocciaretto having already picked up a WTA title this season, Gauff holds a strong record against her.
The American has won all three of their previous meetings in straight sets, including their latest clash at the 2024 French Open.
Still, Cocciaretto might take some encouragement from Gauff’s past performances in Doha, where the two-time Grand Slam winner has not managed a win at either the 2024 or 2025 tournaments.
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