Coco Gauff Dominates at Miami Open, Eyes Another Grand Slam Title
Coco Gauff is on a mission at the Miami Open, surging into the round of 16 with a series of commanding performances.
The American, ranked No. 3 in the WTA, began her campaign with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 victory over Sofia Kenin in the second round after receiving a first-round bye. She then faced Maria Sakkari in round three, securing a 6-2, 6-4 win against the 28th seed.
Now, Gauff is set to take on Magda Linette in the last 16, aiming to go further than her recent exit at this stage of Indian Wells. Linette, who started her Miami Open journey in the first round, has defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 18th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, and Linda Fruhvirtova to set up the clash with Gauff.
Gauff Prioritizes Grand Slam Titles Over No. 1 Ranking
Following her latest victory, Gauff was asked in a press conference whether she would prefer winning another major title or reaching the world No. 1 ranking.
“Another major,” Gauff responded. “I feel like people remember you more for Grand Slams than for being ranked No. 1. Obviously, if you could have both, that’s great. But for me personally, with only one major so far, I’d like another one to cement myself even more.”
Gauff claimed her first Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open and later triumphed at the WTA Finals. While she has reached as high as No. 2 in the rankings, she remains focused on adding more major titles to her resume.
Playing Loose and Relaxed in Miami
The 21-year-old has been enjoying her time at the Miami Open, emphasizing that staying relaxed is key to her success.
“That was the goal today—to go out there and have fun on the court,” she said. “I feel like I play my best tennis when I’m relaxed and loose.”
Her confidence and comfort on the court were evident as she freely experimented with her shots throughout the match.
“I was just trying to be loose out there. In the past, I’ve felt some pressure playing at home, but I think I’m learning to embrace it and use it to my advantage.”
Gauff has already made history, becoming the youngest player to secure 75 main draw wins in WTA-1000 events since the format’s introduction in 2009. As she continues her Miami Open campaign, she remains focused on achieving even greater milestones in her young and promising career.
