Coco Gauff Battles Mental Doubts And Technical Hurdles To Reach Final Four Of Miami Open

Coco Gauff reaches the Miami Open semi-finals while opening up about her struggles with confidence and recovering from a recent nerve-related injury.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 26, 2026, 4:29 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Tennis365

Mental Resilience Drives Gauff Past Top-Tier Competition

The competitive journey of Coco Gauff at the Miami Open reached a new milestone on Tuesday following a resilient performance against twelfth-ranked Belinda Bencic. Securing a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 victory, the American star demonstrated a high level of mental fortitude to overcome a significant mid-match momentum shift. This win marks her fourth consecutive three-set victory in the tournament, having previously navigated difficult matches against Sorana Cirstea, Alycia Parks, and Elisabetta Cocciaretto. According to match observers, Gauff’s ability to remain composed during high-pressure baseline rallies has been the defining characteristic of her current campaign in Florida.

Internal Conflict Surfaces Amid Career Achievements

Despite a professional resume that includes eleven singles titles and a career-high ranking of world number two, Gauff admitted to experiencing feelings of impostor syndrome. Speaking to media after her quarter-final win, she confessed that hearing her list of accomplishments during pre-match introductions often feels disconnected from her own perception of her career. The twenty-two-year-old athlete noted that because she is constantly focused on technical improvements, it is sometimes difficult to internalize the reality of her standing at the top of the WTA tour. According to Gauff, she is actively working with her coaching staff to bridge the gap between her internal doubts and her objective on-court successes.

Physical Challenges Test American Standout’s Resolve

The lead-up to the Miami Open was far from ideal for Gauff, who revealed that a "nerve-related" arm injury had almost sidelined her from the event entirely. Her medical team and coaching staff initially advised against competing after the injury brought a premature end to her run at Indian Wells earlier this month. However, Gauff exercised her own discretion to participate, a decision that has so far yielded a semi-final appearance. While the physical discomfort has subsided enough to allow for competition, the lack of a full preparation period has placed additional pressure on her tactical execution during long matches.