Naomi Osaka advanced to the last 16 of the Qatar Open after a hard-fought victory over Petra Martic, winning 6-3, 7-6 (11/9). The four-time Grand Slam champion, currently on a comeback from maternity leave after the birth of her daughter in July, displayed her prowess by securing crucial breaks in both sets. Despite a momentary setback at 5-4 in the second set, Osaka's resilience and Martic's double-fault on match point sealed the win.
Coco Gauff faced an unexpected early exit from the tournament as she succumbed to a 6-2, 6-4 defeat against Katerina Siniakova. This marked Gauff's first failure to reach the quarterfinals since Wimbledon last year. The US Open champion struggled with six service breaks in a match marred by errors, including relinquishing a 4-0 lead in the second set. Siniakova, who secured the victory, is set to face Danielle Collins in the last 16.
Meanwhile, fourth seed Ons Jabeur experienced a tough start to the year, suffering a 6-3, 6-2 defeat at the hands of Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko. Jabeur's early exit adds to her challenges in the current season. In contrast, Australian Open runner-up Zheng Qinwen marked her return to the court with a hard-fought triumph, overcoming Magda Linette 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 in her first match since the Melbourne final against Aryna Sabalenka.
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