Gauff ties Wozniacki’s WTA 1000 record despite Miami injury concerns
Coco Gauff had to dig deep to get past Elisabetta Cocciaretto and keep her Miami Open campaign alive.
The American dropped the first set in her tournament opener but managed to turn things around, clinching the match in a decider.
Gauff, who is dealing with an injury, remains determined to claim a title at one of her home tournaments for the first time.
This latest victory also saw her match a record held by Caroline Wozniacki for most consecutive wins at WTA 1000 events.
Gauff moves to 103 WTA 1000 Wins, matching Wozniacki’s mark
That win over Cocciaretto marked Gauff’s 103rd career victory at the WTA 1000 level.
The number matches Caroline Wozniacki’s record for most wins at that tier before turning 23, according to OptaAce.
She now trails only Martina Hingis in the standings. The Swiss legend tallied an incredible 154 wins before her own 23rd birthday.
Having just celebrated her 22nd birthday, Gauff still has a full year ahead of her to close the gap on Hingis’ mark. It would be a huge ask, but just being in that company speaks volumes about her early success.
There are nine more Masters events left in the season after Miami, giving her time to narrow the gap even further and cement herself as one of this generation’s best players. It will be a tough challenge, but she’s already proven she belongs in those conversations.
Draw breaks open for Gauff at Miami Open
A few early exits have already shaken up Gauff’s section of the draw, and she’s now seen as a strong favourite to reach at least the quarter-finals.
Maria Sakkari and Linda Noskova both crashed out in the second round, with losses to Alycia Parks and Sorana Cirstea, respectively.
Gauff will face Parks next—a familiar opponent she beat at this year’s Australian Open.
If she gets through that match, her next challenge will come from either Cirstea or Elise Mertens. Mertens is the only remaining seed in that part of the draw.
Mertens hasn’t had much success against Gauff in their previous meetings, having lost all five encounters since they first played in 2021.
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