Coco Gauff is all set to kick off her campaign at the 2026 Miami Open, with her first opponent now confirmed. Seeded fourth at the WTA 1000 event, the American has received a bye into the second round.
Gauff began her season on a strong note, reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships. However, she faced a concerning setback at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where she was forced to retire mid-match during her third-round clash against Alexandra Eala due to a left arm injury.
The silver lining for the 22-year-old is that she returns to familiar territory at her home tournament and sounds optimistic about her recovery. With that in mind, here are all the key details about Coco Gauff’s opening match at the Miami Open.
Where Is Coco Gauff Playing?
Coco Gauff is currently competing at the Miami Open, a tournament she has featured in six times so far. Her best performances have been reaching the Round of 16 on three occasions.
Last year, Gauff advanced to the fourth round with convincing wins over Sofia Kenin and Maria Sakkari. However, her run was cut short as she suffered a straight-sets defeat to unseeded Magda Linette.
Who Is Coco Gauff Playing Against?
Coco Gauff will face Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the second round of the Miami Open. Cocciaretto, a 25-year-old from Italy, is unseeded at the tournament. The Italian began her campaign with a dominant win over Darja Semenistaja, a qualifier from Latvia, defeating her 6-4, 6-1 in straight sets to set up the clash with Gauff.
The two players are already familiar with each other, having faced off four times, with Gauff leading the head-to-head 3-1. However, their most recent encounter at the Qatar Open last month saw Cocciaretto come out on top in straight sets.
The winner of this matchup will advance to face either the 33rd seed Maria Sakkari or the unseeded Alycia Parks in the third round.
Coco Gauff Vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto Match Schedule
The match is scheduled for Friday, March 20, at the Stadium court.
It is set to begin not before 1:00 PM EST, following the conclusion of the match between Casper Ruud and Ethan Quinn.
Coco Gauff Vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto Streaming Details
Fans can watch the match on the following channels and sites:
USA – Tennis Channel
Canada – TSN
Australia – beIN Sports
UK – Sky Sports
India – Fancode
Also Read:
Andy Roddick Sends Concerning Message About Coco Gauff As Injured American Prepares For Miami Open
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
