- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Coco Gauff rallies to advance at Miami Open
The fourth-seeded American overcame a tough three-set match against Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Mar. 21, 2026 at 10:25am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Coco Gauff, the fourth seed, 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, which she desperately wants to win. Despite committing 11 double faults, Gauff won 77% of her first serves and rallied from a set down to advance to the second round.
Why it matters
Gauff's performance at the Miami Open is significant as she looks to bounce back from the injury that forced her to withdraw from the Indian Wells tournament. The Miami Open is a tournament she has targeted, and her ability to overcome a tough first-round match against Cocciaretto demonstrates her resilience and determination to succeed on the court.
The details
Gauff lost serve twice in the first set and once in the second set, but broke the Italian in the ninth game of the second set and held to even the match. Gauff fell behind 2-0 in the deciding set, but won four straight games and won the match on her third match point on Cocciaretto's serve.
- Gauff pulled out due to a left arm nerve injury during a third-round match vs. Alexandra Eala of the Philippines on March 8.
- 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 who is the fourth seed at the Miami Open.
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
The takeaway
Gauff's ability to rally and overcome a tough first-round match against Cocciaretto, despite dealing with a recent injury, demonstrates her resilience and determination to succeed on the court. Her performance at the Miami Open will be closely watched as she looks to build momentum and make a deep run in the tournament.
