Coco Gauff Eyes World Number Three Spot Following Iga Swiatek’s Shock Exit in Miami

Iga Swiatek’s shock Miami Open loss has opened the door for Coco Gauff. Find out exactly what Gauff needs to do to become the new world number three.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 21, 2026, 5:20 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Tennis365

The Sudden Opening in the Women’s Draw

The landscape of the Miami Open shifted dramatically on Thursday when the 2022 champion and world number three, Iga Swiatek, became the tournament's first major casualty. Stunned in three sets by Magda Linette, the six-time Grand Slam winner was forced to exit the competition much earlier than anticipated. This result has significant implications for the bottom half of the singles bracket, particularly for fourth seed Coco Gauff. Originally projected to meet the Pole in a high-stakes semi-final, Gauff now finds herself as the highest-ranked player in her section with a clear mathematical path to leapfrog her rival in the global standings.

Analyzing the Rankings Math for Swiatek

Due to her early departure, Swiatek is set to lose a considerable portion of the ranking points she earned as a quarter-finalist twelve months ago. According to current projections, her total will drop by 150 points, leaving her with 7,263 when the official rankings are updated following the conclusion of the event. While this setback is significant, Swiatek is statistically guaranteed to remain within the top four regardless of other results. However, her vulnerability at the number three spot has created a rare window for Gauff to close a gap that previously seemed insurmountable during the early stages of the spring swing.

The Road to Number Three for Gauff

For the 21-year-old American to capitalize on this opening, she must navigate several rounds of high-pressure tennis. Gauff entered the tournament with 6,748 points and is currently defending 120 points from her fourth-round appearance last year. To surpass Swiatek, Gauff must reach at least the final, which would elevate her to ,278 points. Should she go a step further and secure her first Miami Open title, she would reach a career-high of 7,628 points. This surge would not only move her ahead of Swiatek but also bring her within striking distance of the top two players, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina.