Coco Gauff Overcomes Early Struggles to Reach Miami Open Third Round

American tennis star Coco Gauff explains mid-match adjustments to her serve that helped her rally past Elisabetta Cocciaretto.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 11:34am

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Coco Gauff came through a tough test to reach the third round of the Miami Open, overcoming Elisabetta Cocciaretto in three sets despite losing the first set. Gauff, who had withdrawn from her previous match at Indian Wells due to injury, explained how she made key adjustments to her serve during the match to turn things around and secure the victory.

Why it matters

Gauff's serving has been an ongoing issue over the past year, and her ability to make mid-match adjustments to improve her serve was crucial in this match against an opponent who had previously beaten her. Gauff's continued progress and ability to overcome adversity will be important as she aims for her first Miami Open title.

The details

After dropping the opening set 6-3 to Cocciaretto, Gauff made several changes to her serve, including slowing down some of her first serves, using the new balls to her advantage, and mixing up her pace and targets. These adjustments helped Gauff settle into a better serving rhythm, as she won 63% of her service points overall. However, she still struggled with double faults, finishing the match with 11.

  • Gauff withdrew from her previous match at the Indian Wells tournament due to injury.
  • Earlier this year at the Qatar Open, Gauff was beaten by Cocciaretto.

The players

Coco Gauff

An American professional tennis player who is currently ranked among the top players in the world.

Elisabetta Cocciaretto

An Italian professional tennis player who has previously defeated Gauff in a tournament.

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What they’re saying

“I think just slowing down some of the serves on the first and I think also using the new balls to my advantage when it was time. Maybe not going for as small of targets and just letting the new balls fly for me. Just being smart with the serve, mixing it up, taking some pace off and then applying pace.”

— Coco Gauff

What’s next

Gauff will next face Alycia Parks as she continues her bid for a first Miami Open title.

The takeaway

Gauff's ability to make mid-match adjustments to her serve, despite ongoing issues with double faults, demonstrates her resilience and problem-solving skills as she progresses through the Miami Open. Her continued development in this area will be crucial as she aims to capture her first title at this prestigious tournament.