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Coco Gauff rallies to advance at Miami Open
Fourth-seeded American overcomes tough three-set match against Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto
Mar. 21, 2026 at 4:54am
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Fourth-seeded Coco Gauff prevailed in a tough three-set match over Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the Miami Open on Friday. Gauff, who had to withdraw from the Indian Wells tournament due to a left arm nerve injury, pronounced herself fit to play in the Miami tournament that she desperately wants to win.
Why it matters
Gauff's victory in the Miami Open is significant as she looks to bounce back from her recent injury and regain her form ahead of the upcoming Grand Slam tournaments. The Miami Open is an important event on the WTA calendar, and Gauff's performance will be closely watched by fans and the tennis community.
The details
Gauff's serve was a mixed bag, as she committed 11 double faults but won 77% of her first serves in the match that lasted two hours and 15 minutes. She lost serve twice in the first set and once in the second set, but broke Cocciaretto in the ninth game of the second set to even the match. Gauff fell behind 2-0 in the deciding set, but won four straight games to win the match on her third match point on Cocciaretto's serve.
- Gauff had to withdraw from the Indian Wells tournament on March 8 due to a left arm nerve injury.
- The Miami Open first-round match between Gauff and Cocciaretto took place on Friday, March 21, 2026.
The players
Coco Gauff
A 22-year-old American tennis player and the fourth seed in the Miami Open. She is a rising star on the WTA tour and is seeking to win her first Miami Open title.
Elisabetta Cocciaretto
A 24-year-old Italian tennis player who faced Gauff in the first round of the Miami Open.
What they’re saying
“Every day it's different, but I think for the most part I will be fine playing this tournament. I might feel it sometimes on court, but I definitely feel it less and less every day.”
— Coco Gauff
“Last time we played I didn't win, so I wanted to overcome that feeling. This week made me realize how much I love this sport. Even when it's tough, I enjoy the ups and downs of the journey.”
— Coco Gauff
What’s next
Gauff will face the winner of the match between Ekaterina Alexandrova and Belinda Bencic in the second round of the Miami Open.
The takeaway
Gauff's ability to rally and overcome her early struggles in the match against Cocciaretto demonstrates her resilience and determination to succeed, even when facing adversity. Her performance will be closely watched as she looks to make a deep run in the Miami Open and regain her top form ahead of the upcoming Grand Slam tournaments.
