Coco Gauff came through a nervy encounter with Elise Mertens, as she saved three match points to reach the quarter-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships.

The third seed won 2-6 7-6 (11-9) 6-3 amid struggles with her serve, setting up a last-eight clash against either Sorana Cirstea or Alexandra Eala.

Mertens was fast out of the blocks, breaking Gauff's serve in the very first game before doing so again soon afterwards to take a 5-1 lead.

After the Belgian saw out the first set, both players were poor on serve in the second as they each converted four break points on their way to a tie-break.

Mertens, however, squandered three match points in that tie-break, with Gauff capitalising on her second set point to force a decider.

And the American did not look back, breaking Merten's serve in three consecutive service games to clinch victory in Dubai.

100 - Coco Gauff is second-youngest player to claim 100 Tier I/WTA-1000 main draw wins since the format’s introduction in 1990, older only than Martina Hingis. Century. #DDFTennis | @DDFTennis @WTA pic.twitter.com/TzqtU0XIUO

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) February 18, 2026

Meanwhile, in a last-16 battle between two of the most in-form players this season, Elina Svitolina defeated Belinda Bencic.

Svitolina came from a set down to win 4-6 6-1 6-3 and will face lucky loser Antonia Ruzic in the next round.

Data Debrief: Century up for Gauff

Gauff is the second-youngest player to claim 100 Tier I/WTA-1000 main draw wins since the format’s introduction in 1990, older only than Martina Hingis.

However, the American's recent struggles on serve continue to cause her unnecessary problems.

Gauff's 28 double faults at the Dubai Tennis Championship this season are the most at a single WTA-level event in 2026.