DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — McCartney Kessler earned her first top-10 victory by beating third-ranked Coco Gauff 6-4, 7-5 at the Dubai Championships on Tuesday.
Gauff hadn’t fallen to an opponent ranked outside the top 50 since a loss to Sofia Kenin (128th) at Wimbledon in 2023.
Kessler, ranked No. 53, will play 14th-seeded Karolina Muchova, who defeated Emma Raducanu 7-6 (6), 6-4 on Tuesday, in the round of 16.
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, appeared to be in tears as she went to the umpire’s chair after the second game and fell behind 4-0 before forcing a tiebreaker.
Raducanu was broken again in the first game of the second set. After failing to convert any of the three break points, she earned in the sixth game, it was Muchova who prevailed 6-4.
Earlier, second-seeded Iga Swiatek beat Victoria Azarenka 6-0, 6-2 and will next face Dayana Yastremska for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka eliminated Veronika Kudermetova 6-3, 6-4, and defending champion Jasmine Paolini defeated Eva Lys 6-2, 7-5.
Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula and Paula Badosa also advanced.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
