Coco Gauff has a new doubles partner for the Qatar Open, but it wasn't the original plan. The American star revealed a last-minute scramble led her to team up with Canada's Victoria Mboko.

The Qatar Open setback left Coco Gauff seeking a different partner, and it worked out well.

On February 8, during her pre-tournament press conference, Gauff broke down what led her to approach Victoria Mboko.

Both Gauff and Mboko entered the program with different partners. But both of them failed to make it to the draw with their assigned partners. So, when the offer came from her, Mboko did not waste any time agreeing.

“I was supposed to play with someone else, but we weren't going to get in”, Gauff said. “So, I approached her because she was also playing with someone else and they weren't going to get in. I was like, if we play together, we'll get in. She said yes."

Gauff is not new to doubles. At the 2024 French Open, she paired up with Katerina Siniakova and won the title. So, when the offer came from her, Mboko did not waste any time agreeing.

“Unfortunately, neither of us were able to make it into the draw with our original partners. So, we were like: ‘Wanna play?’ and so, it just came about. But it’s pretty cool!” she said to the Tennis channel.

The 19-year-old Canadian played doubles with Iva Jovic at the Australian Open last month.

What Awaits Gauff and Mboko Next?

The first time they shared the court, they were on opposite sides of the net. Gauff took on Mboko in the 2025 Italy Open, where Gauff lost the first set but dominated the following two sets. Now, as a pair, they’ll face Cristina Bucsa and Nicole Melichar-Martinez in the opening round.

This is the seventh-seeded pair, while Melichar-Martinez’s rank is 17^, and Bucsa’s is 22. Moreover, this is not their first time playing as a pair. They have been playing since 2025 and secured the Monterrey title last year.

Melichar-Martinez is also a former world No 6 in doubles. She has been a women’s doubles Grand Slam finalist twice and won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title in 2018. Bucsa also has several doubles titles in her bag.

So, as a new pair diving straight against a veteran duo, how do you think the game will look for Gauff and Mboko? Comment your thoughts.

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Written by

Deblina Roy

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi