In the midst of mounting criticism following a string of lackluster performances, 21-year-old Coco Gauff swiftly silenced skeptics with an emphatic straight-sets victory at the Miami Open over Sofia Kenin. In doing so, Gauff reasserted herself as the premier American player on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour. This victory, coupled with her former US champion status, has fueled a surge of confidence within Gauff, who has now audaciously set her sights on the Miami Open title.
Fresh off a disappointing exit from the BNP Paribas Open R16, Gauff turned the tables with a stellar performance at the Miami Open. Having honed her skills in nearby Delray Beach, Gauff looked comfortably at home on the Miami courts. She put on a flawless performance against fellow American Sofia Kenin, losing a mere 18 points throughout the match. This decisive victory catapulted Gauff into the 3rd round without her conceding a single game, securing what is known as a “double bagel” win.
Post-match, a visibly confident Gauff, holder of nine WTA singles titles, boldly declared her intention to seize the Miami Open title. Such a win would undoubtedly cement her status as the top-ranked American player.
In a post-match interview, Gauff was informed that three American women are currently ranked in the top five of the WTA rankings. This is the first time that this has occurred in two decades. Gauff responded with her characteristic charm and self-assurance, praising the recent successes of her fellow American WTA players. She went on to express her hope that the Miami Open title would be claimed by an American player, preferably herself.
The WTA rankings have seen a significant shakeup recently. In February, Madison Keys, fresh off her first grand slam title, rose to No. 6. Alongside Gauff and Jessica Pegula, ranked No. 3 and No. 5 respectively, this marked the first time three American women have been ranked in the Top 6 since 2004.
Following Jasmine Paolini’s third-round exit at the Dubai Open Championships, she slipped from rank 4 to 6 in the latest WTA rankings. This reshuffling moved Pegula up from No. 5 to No. 4 and propelled Madison from No. 6 to No. 5. This is the first time since November 3rd, 2003 that there are three US women in the Top 5. On that date, tennis legends Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport, and Jennifer Capriati held the No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 spots respectively.
Gauff is riding high following her double bagel victory over Kenin, the former Australian Open champion. She exhibited her trademark wit during a post-match press conference, where she quipped about her desire to lose a game due to nerves about leading 5-0.
This victory was Gauff’s second double bagel win of her career and marked her quickest victory to date. It surpassed her previous record, set against Arantxa Rus at the 2023 Madrid Open. The win also etched Gauff’s name into the WTA 1000 history books. She became the player with the most wins in this format before turning 22, beating Caroline Wozniacki’s 56-match record with her 57th win.
Gauff also became the youngest player to record a double bagel in the WTA’s singles draw in Miami since Madison Keys achieved the feat in 2013, aged 18. Gauff acknowledged the significance of this achievement, both in terms of its historical weight and its impact on her mental strength.
With a commendable 12-4 record in 2025, Gauff is now poised to face 51st-ranked Maria Sakkari in the 3rd round of the Miami Open. Their head-to-head record slightly favors Sakkari at 5-4. Their most recent encounter took place at Indian Wells. The question now is whether Gauff can maintain this momentum and make a deep run in the tournament. Is Gauff set to continue her dominance on the WTA Tour? Only time will tell.