Coco Gauff endured another frustrating day on serve as her hopes of winning the Miami Open vanished in a shocking 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Magda Linette.
As one of the most recognizable figures in American sports, Gauff draws immense attention whenever she competes on home soil. However, she struggled to find her rhythm in a match plagued by errors, racking up 12 double faults and 45 unforced errors in a lackluster performance.
“It wasn’t great today,” Gauff admitted. “It hasn’t been great the last few weeks. I’m trying to figure that out. Definitely not happy about it. Just one of those days where I felt awful in everything on the court.”
Despite enjoying notable successes since her US Open title defense ended in disappointment last year—capped by a triumphant victory at the WTA Finals—Gauff’s persistent serving issues remain a significant concern. Against Linette, those struggles proved costly, gifting the 33-year-old Polish player numerous free points.
Linette capitalized on Gauff’s inconsistency, breaking her serve four times while holding her own, conceding just two breaks en route to a well-earned victory.
“It’s a massive achievement for me to beat Coco,” said Linette, ranked No. 34 in the world. “Even on her worst days, she’s incredibly tough. I was returning well, and I think she felt some pressure. The key was keeping my first serve strong, and I’m glad I managed to do that.”
Linette now advances to face Jasmine Paolini, holding a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head meetings, including a notable win at last year’s Olympic Games.
“She’s a very consistent player—forehand, backhand, serve, she has it all,” Linette said of Paolini. “I need to be aggressive, cut down on mistakes, and maintain the movement I had today.”
For Gauff, this latest setback adds to a string of concerning results. Still just 21 years old, the world No. 3 remains a Grand Slam champion, but the weight of expectation on her shoulders is immense.
She started 2025 in strong form, excelling at the United Cup and reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals before falling to Paula Badosa. However, her performances since then have been inconsistent, with early exits and unexpected defeats, including a loss to Belinda Bencic at Indian Wells.
Now, another upset against an opponent she was expected to beat raises further questions about her form. While her top-three ranking is safe for now, her place among the elite could be at risk if she fails to resolve her serving woes.
Gauff’s explosive baseline game still flashes brilliance, but without consistency, competing for the sport’s biggest titles will remain a challenge.
