Coco Gauff is proving that you don’t need to feel like a champion every day to play like one. On Tuesday night at the Hard Rock Stadium, the American No. 4 seed dug deep into her reservoir of "fighting spirit" to defeat Belinda Bencic 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.
The victory marks a major milestone: Gauff is the youngest American woman to reach the Miami Open semi-finals since Serena Williams in 2004; the very year Gauff was born. Despite the accolades, the 22-year-old two-time Grand Slam winner admitted that she is still wrestling with "impostor syndrome" as she attempts to retool her game under the brightest lights in tennis.
In a candid post-match reflection, Gauff revealed that the gap between her resume and her internal confidence can feel vast, especially while she navigates a significant change to her service motion under biomechanics coach Gavin Macmillan.
I think sometimes I can get impostor syndrome and even when they’re saying my accomplishments during the warm-up, it doesn’t feel like me... Especially with my serve, it just feels like I shouldn’t be where I am. But tennis doesn’t lie, the ball doesn’t lie, so I just have to believe in myself.
Coco Gauff
Gauff’s run in Miami is even more impressive considering she nearly skipped the tournament entirely. After retiring from Indian Wells with a right forearm injury, later diagnosed via her first-ever MRI as nerve damage, Gauff has played with "occasional twinges" of pain.
She humorously described her first MRI experience as feeling like a "coffin," citing a new bout of claustrophobia, but her play on the court has been anything but restricted. Her scrambling defense and improved tactical use of the drop shot were the deciding factors in a grueling third set against Bencic.
Sunshine double watch: While Gauff eyes the final, Aryna Sabalenka continues her quest for the rare Sunshine Double (winning Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back) as she faces Hailey Baptiste on Wednesday.
Ranking jump: If Gauff reaches the final, she is projected to overtake Iga Swiatek to become the new World No. 3.
Grind mode: Gauff has been taken to a third set in all four of her matches in Miami so far, proving her physical conditioning remains elite despite the arm injury.
Next opponent: Gauff faces 13th seed Karolina Muchova in the semi-finals. Notably, Gauff holds a dominant 5-0 head-to-head record against the Czech.
Coco Gauff’s 2026 Miami campaign is a testament to the "ugly win." She is battling her serve, her forearm, and her own self-doubt, yet she remains the last American standing in her home tournament. With a perfect record against her next opponent and a chance to hit a career-high ranking, the "impostor" is looking more like a favorite with every passing round.
