Coco Gauff advanced to the Miami Open semi-finals for the first time after defeating Belinda Bencic in a hard-fought match. The 22-year-old American, already a two-time Grand Slam champion, secured her place in history as the youngest U.S. player to reach this stage of the tournament since Serena Williams in 2004—the year Gauff was born.
Ranked fourth in the world, Gauff battled through a tense three-set contest. After dropping the second set heavily, she regained momentum in the decider. She strung together four consecutive games to seal a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 victory in just over two hours. The win not only marked a personal milestone but also positioned her for a potential rise in the rankings. Should she reach the final, she will move past Iga Swiatek and climb to world number three.
Despite her success, Gauff admitted she continues to wrestle with self-doubt. She described moments of imposter syndrome, explaining that hearing her achievements announced before matches sometimes feels disconnected from her own sense of identity. “It doesn’t always feel like me,” she said, acknowledging that she struggles to believe she belongs at the top level. She credited her coach for reminding her of her talent and encouraging her to trust her abilities, especially when working on aspects of her game like her serve. “Tennis doesn’t lie,” she added, emphasizing the importance of confidence.
This semi-final run follows Gauff’s previous Miami campaigns, which ended in the round of 16 in 2022, 2024, and 2025. She has already claimed three WTA 1,000 titles, but Miami had remained elusive until now. Her next challenge will be against Karolina Muchova, who overcame Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko in straight sets.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina continued her strong form. The world number two dismissed Australia’s Talia Gibson 6-2, 6-2 to set up a quarter-final clash with fifth seed Jessica Pegula. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka will also feature in the last eight, facing American Hailey Baptiste.
Gauff’s breakthrough in Miami highlights both her growing stature in the sport and her ongoing journey to fully embrace her place among the elite. Her performance against Bencic demonstrated resilience, and her candid reflections reveal the mental challenges that accompany success at the highest level.
