Tuesday Tennis Thoughts: Upsets and Opinions Dominate The Middle Eastern Swing

Sports fans who do not follow tennis may find it boring, but it is anything but that, especially in 2025 where soap opera off-court storylines accompany outstanding on-court play.

Here are some Tuesday tennis thoughts to keep everyone up to date on what’s happening in the Middle Eastern Swing: Doha for the men and Dubai for the women.

1. Shocking First Round Losses For Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic

Coco Gauff’s Middle Eastern swing has not been great.  She lost her first-round match last week in Doha to Marta Kostyuk and in Dubai this week to Hobart champion McCartney Kessler, the American who defeated Doha champion Amanda Anisimova in her previous round.

Simply Unstoppable 🛑

McCartney Kessler upsets the World No. 3 in straight sets after a commanding performance 6-4, 7-5!#DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/5Uglitdsuf

— wta (@WTA) February 18, 2025

Gauff started the year leading the US to victory in the United Cup but exited the Australian Open in the quarterfinals after a straight-set loss to Paula Badosa, and Doha and Dubai in the first round.  Here’s hoping Coco finds her game for the Sunshine Double in March at Indian Wells and Miami.

Novak Djokovic never lost to Matteo Berrettini until today in Doha. Djokovic was injured in the Australian Open, and some wonder if he returned too fast.  As for Berrettini, he is so fun to watch when he is healthy.  Hopefully, that continues for Italy’s third-ranked player.

Matteo Berrettini’s reaction after beating Novak Djokovic in Doha

Look at that smile

He lets out a massive roar

His first-ever win over Novak

After years of battling injuries… Matteo is back with more passion, hunger, & heart than ever

🇮🇹🥹

pic.twitter.com/xrjjqTv0fF

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 18, 2025

2. Everyone Has An Opinion And A Microphone To Talk About Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner is suspended for three months.  Even though he is not playing, he is a topic of conversation.  Players have a right to be concerned about tennis’s methods to keep the sport clean.  It is confusing and inconsistent.  Hopefully, the process is addressed, and Sinner and questions about him in his absence have run their course.  As Martina Navratilova put it, “this still stinks” because everyone is hurt by it.

I think this still stinks. We are trying to keep out dopers… and Jannik Sinner is not that…this 3 month suspension doesn’t help anyone. At least Jannik will be done with this and will have a forced vacation instead. Tennis loses in every way. https://t.co/7xe6apY9rF

— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) February 18, 2025

3. Let Elena Rybakina Focus On Tennis Not Her Suspended Former Coach

Speaking of suspensions, Elena Rybakina‘s former coach Stefano Vukov is suspended for one year.  It is almost as if he never left since Rybakina and her peers continue to get questioned about this situation. Whatever did/did not or is/is not happening with Rybakina and her former coach is only known by Rybakina, Vukov, her team, and the WTA investigators. And that’s fine with me. To be clear, I am not making light of a potentially serious situation, but the powers that be who have the facts have handled it so let’s get back to tennis.