Coco Gauff Within Striking Distance Of World Number Three Spot After Defying Injury Concerns In Miami

Coco Gauff defies her team’s injury advice to reach the Miami Open semi finals and is now one win away from overtaking Iga Swiatek in the rankings.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 25, 2026, 8:04 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Tennis365

Vetoing Medical Caution For A Home Success

The decision to compete in the 2026 Miami Open was a personal gamble for Coco Gauff that has yielded significant professional rewards. After sustaining an arm injury that forced a retirement in Indian Wells against Alex Eala, Gauff’s team expressed strong reservations about her participation in Florida. However, after an MRI cleared her of structural damage, the fourth seed chose to override those concerns to compete in her home state. That persistence has led to her best ever performance at the Hard Rock Stadium, surpassing her previous limit of the fourth round.

Navigating A Challenging Path To The Semi Finals

Gauff’s journey to the final four has been characterized by resilience and an improving level of play. In her most recent quarter final encounter, she battled past twelfth seed Belinda Bencic in a three set contest, winning 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. Throughout the week, the American has also navigated difficult matches against Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Alycia Parks, and Sorana Cirstea. While she has frequently been pushed to a deciding set, Gauff noted that she feels her technical execution and competitive rhythm are sharpening with every appearance on court.

The Battle For The Top Three Ranking

The tournament has created a unique opportunity for Gauff to climb the WTA standings. Following the unexpected second round exit of Iga Swiatek, the gap between the two stars has narrowed significantly. Having already guaranteed herself 390 ranking points by reaching the semi final, Gauff currently sits at 7,018 points in the live rankings. Should she win her upcoming match, she would reach ,7278 points, effectively moving ahead of Swiatek’s total of 7,263 to reclaim the world number three position.