Coco Gauff reached her first Miami Open semifinal with a thrilling comeback victory over Belinda Bencic.
The American teenager won 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 after a tense two-hour battle that tested her resilience and composure.
Gauff started aggressively, breaking Bencic’s serve early and dominating the first set with flawless net play. She won all eight of her net points and closed the set in 51 minutes. Bencic responded strongly in the second, cutting down errors and finding rhythm to level the match in under 30 minutes.
The decider brought drama. Gauff faced a break deficit and frustration over missed chances, but she steadied herself. At 3-3, she broke back with renewed confidence, mixing powerful serves with clever shot selections, including a crucial drop shot. Serving for the match, she held firm and sealed her place in the semifinals.
Her next opponent is Karolina Muchova, who defeated her quarterfinal rival 7-5, 7-6(5). Muchova saved a set point in the second set and extended her strong season record to 18-3. This marks her ninth semifinal at the WTA 1000 level or higher, underscoring her consistency.
Gauff holds a perfect 5-0 record against Muchova, winning four of those encounters in straight sets. This semifinal clash promises high intensity as Gauff continues her remarkable journey at the Miami Open.
