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| - Top-seeded Elina Svitolina suffered a "disappointing" 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 defeat to Svetlana Kuznetsova in her Dubai opener on Tuesday as American teen sensation Coco Gauff fought "fire with fire" to come through a tension-fuelled second round against Marketa Vondrousova. Kuznetsova rallied back from a set and an early break down to knock out the two-time champion and record her 21st match-win in Dubai -- the highest tally among active WTA players. The 35-year-old Russian is a three-time runner-up in the emirate and next has a last-16 showdown with Barbora Krejcikova, who ousted former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko. "Obviously the loss is very tough because I think I started the match quite good and I was feeling good going into the tournament and I really love to play here in Dubai. The result is really disappointing," said the fifth-ranked Svitolina. Contesting a seventh consecutive three-set match, Gauff needed two hours to dismiss the Czech 12th seed 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 and set up a third-round meeting with qualifier Tereza Martincova. The contest took on an edge when 16-year-old Gauff complained to the umpire about how Vondrousova was catching her ball toss with her racquet instead of letting it bounce or capturing it with her hand, which she believed to be against the rules. The incident sparked some tension between the pair as the match unfolded. At one point Gauff aimed directly at Vondrousova's body on a drive volley at the net and did not apologise. The Czech also forewent the courtesy apology when she claimed a point via a lucky net cord. "My personality, I fight fire with fire," Gauff later said of the incident. "I lost those two points that game, and she had wild screams, and I like to scream, so I screamed back." Gauff, who hit a career-high ranking of 38 last week, is hoping to continue her impressive rise with the goal of being seeded at the next Grand Slam. The popular youngster turns 17 on Saturday, the day of the Dubai final and is keen to celebrate in style. "That's definitely a big motivation," said the Florida-based Gauff. Third-seed Aryna Sabalenka made quick work of Frenchwoman Alize Cornet while reigning French Open champion Iga Swiatek enjoyed a winning debut in Dubai as she eased past Japanese lucky loser Misaki Doi 6-2, 6-4 in 76 minutes. The Polish teenager awaits the winner of the clash between Garbine Muguruza and Amanda Anisimova. Over on centre court, second-seeded Karolina Pliskova let two match points slip her grasp in the second set before she regrouped to oust Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2. Her reward is a rematch with American Jessica Pegula, who upset Pliskova at the Qatar Open last week. "The main thing about playing the same player two weeks in a row is that I think for them it's just going to be tough to repeat the matches which they did the first week," said Pliskova, who was a finalist in Dubai in 2015. Meanwhile, Belinda Bencic saw off Russian world number 34 Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 to book a last-16 clash with in-form teenager Anastasia Potapova, who took out American 11th seed Madison Keys. Bencic won the title in 2019 and shared the podium with men's winner Roger Federer who is making his long-awaited return to the court in Doha, following a 13-month absence due to knee surgery. "It's exciting for everyone," said Bencic who turns 24 on Wednesday. "Everyone is counting the days. It's good because he's coming back on my birthday, which is really good and I wish him best of luck." str/bsp/mw
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