Qatar Open: Mboko-Gauff Lose Doubles Opener, Fernandez Wins

In Doha, Qatar, Canadian tennis player Victoria Mboko of Toronto and her American partner Coco Gauff suffered a defeat in their opening-round doubles match at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open on Monday, falling to Spain's Cristina Bucsa and American Nicole Melichar-Martinez, the tournament's seventh seeds, in a three-set marathon, 4-6, 6-4, 11-9.

The match highlighted serving inconsistencies for Mboko and Gauff, who converted just 42 percent of their second-serve points, compared to 64 percent for their opponents. Both teams managed four breaks of serve apiece, but Bucsa and Melichar-Martinez prevailed in the decisive super tiebreaker. The loss marked an early exit for the duo, who had formed their partnership on short notice after their original plans fell through.

Mboko, the 2025 WTA Newcomer of the Year and a breakout star from the previous season, explained the impromptu team-up in a recent interview. "We were actually both entered with two other players," she said. "But unfortunately, neither of us was able to make it into the draw with our original partners. So, we were like, 'Wanna play?' and it just came about. But it's pretty cool!" At 21, Gauff brings extensive experience,...