On a sun-drenched afternoon in Miami, Coco Gauff stepped onto the center court of the Miami Open with a fire in her eyes and a point to prove—not to the doubters, not to the critics, but to herself. The world No. 3 tennis sensation delivered a masterclass in precision and power, dismantling Sofia Kenin, a former Australian Open champion and French Open runner-up, in a swift and merciless 47-minute thrashing. The final score? A resounding 6-0, 6-0—a rare “double bagel” that left the crowd buzzing and Gauff reflecting on her relentless pursuit of perfection. “I really wanted the 6-0,” she admitted after the match, a candid glimpse into the competitive drive that fuels her game.
Heading into the tournament, Gauff’s season had been a rollercoaster. After capping off the previous year with a triumphant WTA Finals victory in Riyadh, she kicked off 2025 with a strong showing at the Australian Open, reaching the quarterfinals. But the momentum stalled. Early exits in Doha and Dubai, followed by a fourth-round stumble at Indian Wells, had sparked whispers about her form. Was the young star losing her edge? Miami was her chance to silence the noise—not that she was paying much attention to it. “I’m not focused on proving a point to doubters and critics when I take the court,” Gauff asserted, her words carrying the quiet confidence of someone who knows her worth lies in her work, not the headlines.
Against Kenin, Gauff was untouchable. From the first serve, she dictated the pace, her groundstrokes slicing through the humid air with surgical accuracy. The 47-minute demolition wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. Kenin, a seasoned competitor with a Grand Slam title under her belt, barely had time to blink, let alone mount a counterattack. Gauff’s movement was fluid, her focus unshakable, and her intent clear: she wasn’t just playing to advance; she was playing to dominate. As the second set unfolded, a flicker of nerves crept in—not from fear of losing, but from the tantalizing prospect of perfection. “I did have a little bit of nerves, and only the first game in the second set, because I feel like I want to hold serve,” she later revealed, offering a rare peek into the mind of a champion balancing ambition with execution.
That fleeting tension didn’t derail her. If anything, it sharpened her resolve. Gauff closed out the match with the same ferocity she’d started with, sealing the 6-0, 6-0 rout with a flourish. For the fans packing the stands, it was a spectacle of raw talent and tenacity. For Gauff, it was business as usual—or at least, the kind of business she’s determined to make routine. “I wasn’t thinking about that today, but after the match I did think about it,” she said, reflecting on the significance of the scoreline. The “double bagel” wasn’t just a statistic; it was a milestone, a testament to her ability to rise above a rocky stretch and reassert her place among the elite.
Beyond the court, Gauff’s Miami triumph carried extra weight. With her 21st birthday recently celebrated—marked by the launch of a new everyday sneaker designed with a nod to her grandmother’s influence—she’s blending personal growth with professional resurgence. The victory propelled her into the third round of the Miami Open, but more than that, it signaled a shift. After weeks of uneven results, Gauff looked like a player rediscovering her rhythm, her hunger undimmed by the setbacks. The rest of the field took notice: when Coco Gauff is on, she’s a force few can reckon with.
As the tournament rolls on, Gauff’s focus remains inward. She’s not chasing validation or scoreboard revenge. She’s chasing the best version of herself—one blistering forehand, one airtight serve at a time. In Miami, she found it, and that 6-0, 6-0 demolition was the proof. For now, the doubters are quiet, the critics are sidelined, and Coco Gauff is back where she belongs: in control, on top, and hungry for more.