Coco Gauff has advanced to the round of 16 at the WTA 1000 Miami Open after defeating fellow American and friend Alycia Parks in the round of 32. Gauff, who stormed into Hard Rock Stadium as the fourth seed, will next clash against Sorana Cîrstea and recently shared a heartwarming glimpse of her friends and family, highlighting the significance of their support for her at her match.
Friends and Family Are Supporting Coco Gauff at the Miami Open
Gauff entered the Miami Open after concluding her run at the Indian Wells Open, where she defeated Kamilla Rakhimova in the round of 64 and was forced to retire in the round of 32 against Alexandra Eala due to a left arm injury in the second set.
As one of the top seeds in Miami, Gauff surpassed Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the round of 64. The win successfully avenged her earlier defeat, as Cocciaretto had dismissed her in the second round at the Qatar Open in straight sets. Following her win over Cocciaretto, Gauff defeated Parks, 3-6, 6-0, 6-1, in a match that lasted one hour and 50 minutes.
Gauff lost the first set, then picked up her pace to secure the last two sets and clinch the win. Parks, a former world No. 40, was last defeated by Gauff in the round of 32 at the 2024 Australian Open.
Through a recent Instagram story, Gauff shared a glimpse of her close ones who came to support her during her match. In the caption, she added, “friends & family support ❤️.”
While expressing her thoughts on the significance of their support, Gauff said, “I had to tell them mid-match to raise the energy. I needed that support, especially when you’re playing someone with so much momentum. I felt like I needed them to cheer more, they did. And look at the score when you guys aren’t dead in the box.”
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After her notable win, Gauff said her match was challenging, adding, “It was really difficult. She was playing really well and she’s one of those people who’s hit or miss sometimes. So, you’re stuck in the fine line of being aggressive but also maybe just making her play.”
She continued, “And I think I got too stuck on the other end of it. And then the second and third, I just tried to be aggressive when I could. I made some adjustments on the return and I think that made a difference.”
In her round of 16 match, Gauff will face the winner of the 2026 Transylvania Open, Cîrstea, against whom she has a 68% chance of winning as per PFSN’s interactive tennis predictor.
