Coco Gauff ‘fit enough’ and ready to compete in Miami Open

Claiming she never wants to take another MRI again, Coco Gauff said she’s fit enough to play the Miami Open, which started Tuesday March 17^th with first-round action.

The Delray Beach resident withdrew from the first leg of the Sunshine Double at Indian Wells in the fourth round against upstart Alexandra Eala with a left forearm injury that she labeled as a nerve injury.

An ensuing MRI was inconclusive,  allowing the 22-year-old superstar to play her hometown tournament. Gauff admitted she would have passed on it if it wasn’t South Florida’s premier tennis event.

“I think it was a nerve thing, like I said immediately after the match,’’ Gauff told reporters at the Miami Open’s Media Day on March 17^th. “The MRI was nothing shown. It was the first time I had to take an MRI. It felt like that’s what a coffin would look like. It was very weird. I hope I don’t have to go in one of those again.’’

Seeded fourth, Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion, is not considered a favorite as she’s not 100 percent.

More Coco Gauff: Coco Gauff concerned about war in the Middle East, her coach stranded

 “Every day Is different,’’ Gauff said. “For the most part, I feel I’ll be fine playing this tournament. I might feel it sometimes on court but I feel it less and less every day. My goal was to play the tournament. There was a thought of skipping it. If it wasn’t Miami, I probably would have skipped it. But I really wanted to play.’’

With so many tour players living in South Florida, Gauff is still the poster child as a native. She was born in Boca Raton, though she spent her first two years in Georgia.

“I feel the epicenter of United States tennis resides in South Florida,’’ said Gauff. “It’s one of the tennis capitals of the world. I’m just lucky I was able to grow up in a place that is so passionate about what I’m so passionate about. I have a lot of family coming this week.’’

And that can create a distraction. She hasn’t gotten past the Miami Open’s fourth round,  though this was the site of her first WTA win in 2019 as a 15-year-old.

Coco Gauff’s family will be very present at Miami tournament

During the event, Gauff said she’s constantly being asked by friends and family exactly when she is hitting the court.

“ ‘When do you play? What time do you play?’ ” Gauff said. “I’m like, ‘I don’t know. I’ll probably find out 10 minutes before you guys, so just look online.’ This is the week I have to shut off my phone. I love playing this tournament. It means a lot whenever I’m able to step on these courts.’’

Gauff called the event at Hard Rock Stadium  “a bucket-list tournament for me.’’

“I don’t know,’’ Gauff said when asked why she hasn’t done better here. “I would love to do well here. Every time I do badly here, I do well on the clay so I can’t feel too bad. I do stay at home. But I have stayed in a hotel in the past. I prefer to stay home. Maybe it will change this year.’’

Gauff has a first-round bye. She’ll play either Elisabetta Cocciaretto or a qualifier in Round 2 later this week.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Coco Gauff playing in Miami Open because it’s her hometown tournament