The Miami Open roared to life on March 20, 2025, under the blazing Florida sun, delivering a day of jaw-dropping tennis that showcased both dominance and determination at Hard Rock Stadium. In a performance that left the crowd buzzing and her opponent reeling, third-seeded Coco Gauff unleashed a masterclass against fellow American Sofia Kenin, dispatching her 6-0, 6-0 in a mere 47 minutes. Meanwhile, British newcomer Jacob Fearnley battled his way into the second round with a gritty victory, setting the stage for an intriguing clash with top seed Alexander Zverev. These two tales—one of ruthless precision, the other of hard-fought resilience—painted a vivid picture of a tournament already brimming with drama.
Gauff, the 21-year-old former US Open champion, stepped onto the stadium court with a point to prove. After a rocky stretch that saw her bow out in the round of 16 at Indian Wells just a week prior, the Floridian star was determined to make a statement on home soil. Facing Kenin, a 2020 Australian Open winner ranked No. 46, Gauff turned the match into a one-sided demolition. She fired off blistering returns, won 84% of her first-serve points, and converted six of nine break points while saving the lone break chance Kenin managed to muster. “I tried my best to keep it short, but I didn’t expect it to be *that* quick,” Gauff said with a chuckle, her humility belying the ferocity she’d just displayed. The double bagel—tennis slang for a 6-0, 6-0 rout—was only the second of her career, a feat she last accomplished against Arantxa Rus in Madrid the previous year.
For Kenin, the match was a nightmare from the start. Fresh off a solid win over two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the first round, she crumbled under Gauff’s relentless pressure, managing just 18 points across the entire contest. “That first game of the second set, I was kind of tight because I wanted to keep the momentum going,” Gauff admitted, revealing a rare moment of tension in an otherwise flawless performance. With her family courtside, she fed off their energy, later noting how their presence helped her relax and enjoy the moment. “I have my family in the crowd—it allowed me to be a bit relaxed,” she said, a smile breaking through as she waved to them. Up next, Gauff faces Ashlyn Krueger, who stunned seventh seed Elena Rybakina in a three-set upset, marking her first top-10 victory and promising another all-American showdown.
Across the grounds, Jacob Fearnley’s journey offered a stark contrast—a tale of grit rather than glide. The 23-year-old Briton, ranked outside the top 100, faced France’s Benjamin Bonzi in a first-round slugfest that stretched over two hours and 19 minutes. The match swung wildly, with Fearnley edging the first set 7-6 in a tiebreak, dropping the second 2-6, and then digging deep to claim the third 6-4. “That was extremely difficult,” he confessed afterward, his voice tinged with relief. “I was feeling my legs, especially my left leg twitching a little bit when I moved to a forehand.” A medical timeout before the deciding set proved pivotal, allowing him to reset and snag an early break that held firm. “Just had to dig deep, and luckily I got the break at the start of the third because that could have easily got away from me,” he added, his pride evident as he savored advancing to face Zverev, the world No. 2.
The day wasn’t without its casualties. Cameron Norrie, another Brit, fell in straight sets to China’s Yunchaokete Bu, 6-4, 6-2, a match where his serve faltered early and never recovered against Bu’s eight aces and commanding play. For Gauff and Fearnley, however, Miami became a proving ground. Gauff’s annihilation of Kenin—a player who’d beaten her twice in Grand Slams—sent a message to the field: she’s not just here to compete, but to conquer. “The last few weeks, I feel like things I normally do well haven’t been clicking, but I’ve been doing it in practice,” she said, hinting at a resurgence fans hope will carry her beyond her previous Miami best of the fourth round.
Fearnley, meanwhile, embodies the underdog spirit, his victory a testament to perseverance as he steps into the daunting spotlight of Zverev’s orbit. The German top seed, a perennial contender, awaits with his own arsenal of power and precision, promising a clash that will test Fearnley’s mettle. As the Miami Open unfolds, these early chapters—Gauff’s dominance and Fearnley’s defiance—set the tone for a fortnight of high stakes and higher dreams, where every swing under the Florida sun could rewrite the script of the 2025 season.
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