Coco Gauff has candidly reflected on her latest victory at the Miami Open, admitting that fortune played its part in helping her advance in the tournament.
Gauff battles past Alycia Parks
The world No. 4 secured a hard-fought win over Alycia Parks in the third round, rallying from a set down to claim a 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 victory. It marked another three-set battle for Gauff, who had also been pushed in her opening match.
Despite the dominant scoreline in the final two sets, the American acknowledged that the match was far from straightforward.
“I got lucky” — Coco Gauff admits
Speaking after the match, Gauff emphasized the importance of holding her serve, which she identified as a key factor in turning the match around.
“I think for me it was honestly just staying on my serve.”
She pointed to a crucial moment early in the contest that helped shift momentum in her favor.
“I felt like obviously I was able to get a bunch of breaks later on. But for me the start of the first, that long game, I mean, second, that long game was important.”
Coco Gauff then openly credited luck for some of her success during the match.
“And I needed to pull my serve. I didn’t, I mean, I got lucky because I did get a lot of breaks. But, honestly, I wasn’t expecting that.”
Strategy focused on pressure
Rather than relying purely on aggressive play, Gauff explained that her approach centered on consistency and applying pressure on her opponent’s serve.
“I just knew I had to hold my serve and maybe put some pressure on her serve. And I would get some breaks.”
Her strategy ultimately paid off, as she dominated the latter stages of the match with a composed and calculated performance.
Eyes on the next round
With the victory, Coco Gauff advances to the round of 16, where she will face Sorana Cîrstea. As the tournament progresses, the American star will look to build on her momentum while maintaining the balance that has brought her success so far.