Coco Gauff arrives in Doha ahead of Qatar Open, jokes about booking flight for FIFA World Cup on the wrong date

Coco Gauff has arrived in Qatar to take part in the upcoming Qatar Open. The American jokingly expressed that she booked the flight to the Middle-East country at the wrong time, referring to missing out on the bygone 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Gauff followed the events that unfolded at the World Cup in Qatar and was quick to react to them through social media. While several other players, including Novak Djokovic, Victoria Azarenka, and Emma Raducanu, were spotted across various stadiums in Qatar, the World No. 6 did not attend the matches physically resorting to watching them via television.

Upon landing in Qatar on Friday, Gauff ironically remarked about booking her flight for the "World Cup" on the wrong date.

"booked my flight for the world cup on the wrong date," she quoted on her Instagram stories.

Via Instagram: Coco Gauff on arriving in Qatar after the FIFA World Cup

Gauff was allied with doubles partner and compatriot Jessica Pegula as the World No. 4 is also participating in the Qatar Open. Through social media, Qatar Tennis greeted the Americans on their arrival as they wrote:

"Tennis stars Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff arrive in Doha to participate in the Qatar Total Energy Open 2023"

Reacting to this, Gauff reflected on the exhausting flight journey as she wrote:

"post 14 hour flight"

Gauff's Instagram story on Friday

The Qatar Open is set to commence on February 13 at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Doha.

---

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula reached the semifinals of the 2023 Australian Open women's doubles

Coco Gauff at the 2023 Australian Open

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula were recently paired up for the women's doubles at the Australian Open. The duo registered comprehensive wins in the first four rounds to earn a place in the semifinals.

Gauff and Pegula looked the most likely to go all the way. However, they took an unexpected blow when they faced 10th seed Ena Shibahara and Shuko Aoyama on the penultimate stage. They lost the match in straight sets as their campaign in Melbourne came to a conclusion.

In the women's singles, Pegula made a deeper run compared to the 18-year-old. Gauff endured an exit in the fourth round after losing against Jelena Ostapenko (7-5, 6-3), while Pegula crashed out of the tournament in the quarterfinals as she suffered a straight sets defeat against Victoria Azarenka (6-4, 6-1).