Gauff and Mboko link up late for Qatar Open Doubles

Coco Gauff and Victoria Mboko will form an unexpected doubles partnership at the Qatar Open after both players missed out on the draw with their original partners.

While their priority remains singles, both entered the doubles event in Doha. When their initial partnerships failed to make the draw, the pairing came together.

“We were actually both entered with two other players,” Mboko told Tennis Channel. “Neither of us got in with our original partners, so we were like, ‘Wanna play?’”

Gauff, a former world No. 1 in doubles, has limited her doubles appearances in recent seasons, while Mboko has also focused primarily on singles development. Despite that, both bring good doubles credentials into the tournament.

They will play their first doubles match on Monday, February 9, against seventh seeds Cristina Bucsa and Nicole Melichar-Martinez.