Coco Gauff took a while to wake up on Sunday, but once she did, it was lights out for Oceane Dodin, as the American rallied from 4-2 down to win the match in straight sets 6-4, 6-0. With a remarkable win, Gauff advanced to the fourth round of the Miami Open for the second time in her career. Gauff sleepwalked through much of the first set on Hard Rock Stadium’s court, but when the alarm went off, the US Open champion swept 10 consecutive games to startle the French lucky loser. Dodin began to crumble under Gauff’s siege, racking up nine double faults and 26 unforced errors to her 20-year-old opponent’s seven.
Gauff has lost just one of her last 23 matches in the United States. Gauff’s last setback came against Maria Sakkari at Indian Wells earlier last month. Gauff, who turned 20 on March 13, is the youngest American to hold a top-three seed in Miami. Gauff from South Florida attended the event growing up and said winning a title there would be special.
Dodin is a big hitter. She likes the game on her terms, Gauff told reporters. I was trying my best to get deep in the court and just weather the storm. Overall, I feel good so far. I’m trying to improve with each match. Playing a little bit better than I was last week in Indian Wells, she added.
With the win, Gauff matched her best Miami result and will face No.27 Caroline Garcia to earn a spot in the quarterfinals. The 30-year-old French woman defeated Japan’s Naomi Osaka 7-6 (4), 7-5 on Sunday in a match in which the pair combined for 28 aces.
Following a difficult day for the American men on Saturday, when three of the top four seeds were eliminated, the US women picked up the flag with fifth seed Jessica Pegula and 20th seed Emma Navarro also advancing. Pegula, who has reached the Miami Open semi-finals the previous two years, advanced to the round of 16 with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Canadian Leylah Fernandez. Pegula will battle against her compatriot Navarro to reach the last eight.
Navarro, who reached the quarter-finals at Indian Wells last week after defeating world number two Aryna Sabalenka and 17th-ranked Elina Svitolina, continued her impressive form in Miami with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-0 third-round victory over Italian 12th seed Jasmine Paolini.
