In a surprising twist at the Miami Open, Coco Gauff suffered a shocking defeat, while Emma Raducanu sailed through to her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal, maintaining her exceptional form.
The third-seeded Gauff grappled with an unexpected loss against unseeded Magda Linette in an unsettling match that saw the American player commit 12 double faults and 45 unforced errors. Gauff lost her serve four times before enduring a 4-6 4-6 defeat and bowing out of the competition in the round of 16. Up until this unfortunate match, the American had held a 2-0 lead against the 34th-ranked Linette.
The tide seemed to turn against Gauff as early as the third game of the first set, when Linette secured the first break of the match. Despite being down by a set, Gauff tried to regain her footing and managed to take a 2-0 lead in the second set. However, her performance dipped once more and she found herself broken three more times, culminating in a two-set defeat.
Meanwhile, Linette, fresh off her victory, is now headed for her first Miami quarterfinal, where she will face Jasmine Paolini, who triumphed over Naomi Osaka.
In other news, Raducanu had a brilliant run in her first three Miami matches, including a stunning victory over No. 17 seed Amanda Anisimova, where she dominated the court with a 6-1 6-3 win. During the first set, Raducanu showcased her prowess by securing three breaks and not conceding a single point on her serve.
Up next, the 2021 US Open champion will compete for a place in the Miami semifinal against the winner of the match between Jessica Pegula and Marta Kostyuk.
Although Raducanu’s exceptional performance deserved the win, it’s worth noting that Anisimova grappled with blisters that had also troubled her during her previous win against Mirra Andreeva. Anisimova had to resort to physio tape on her right wrist and treatment for her thumb blister midway through the match.
This latest round of the Miami Open has proven to be a roller coaster of emotions, with thrilling wins and shocking losses adding to the excitement of the tournament. As the competition continues, fans and spectators alike eagerly anticipate what the next round of matches will bring.
