Coco Gauff sports her own New Balance signature shoe.
The 19-year-old Gauff is trying to make tracks in her Miami Open return.
Gauff broke serve five times in a 6-4, 6-3 sweep of Canadian Rebecca Marino at Hard Rock Stadium.
“Today it was an up-and-down match honestly. A lot of breaks,” Gauff said. “I mean, I did well in the returning part, considering she’s a big server.
“I’m really happy with how I played. She’s not an easy opponent. She makes a lot of big shots, doesn’t really give you a lot of rhythm. You kind of just have to hang in there, yeah.”
The Delray Beach baseliner’s clean 72-minute win came right after her friend and doubles partner, Jessica Pegula pounded out a 6-3, 6-1 win over Canadian Katherine Sebov.
Four years and two days ago, Gauff won her first WTA main-draw match in Miami.
In a clash of talented young American wild cards back in 2019, Gauff rallied from 2-4 down in the decisive set to edge sometime doubles partner Caty McNally, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, in a Miami Open opener before a packed Court 5 crowd that included Kathy Rinaldi, Patrick Mouratoglou, Roger Federer’s agent, Tony Godsick, and veteran coach Sven Groeneveld, who previously coached Maria Sharapova.
Is Roland Garros finalist Gauff surprised by how much she’s achieved so quickly?
“I feel like yes and no. I feel like in a way like I approach every match believing I can win. In that aspect, like, no,” Gauff said. “Definitely if I take a step back and look at it as a whole, yes.
“It’s a difficult question for me because I feel like I’ve worked really hard. So when these things happen, when I win these matches, I definitely feel like I deserve it.
“But also anybody who knows me knows I’m always wanting more. In a way, like, I’m not satisfied. Sometimes I don’t look at it as a great achievement, so yeah.”
Next up for Gauff is 27th-seeded Anastasia Potapova, who took down Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk.
Gauff, a huge Miami Heat fan, said she was inspired by Heat guard Jimmy Butler coming out to watch today. Afterward, the pair traded fist bumps and did some photos.
“Well, when I saw Jimmy Butler, I mean, he was right next to my towels. I had no choice but to see him,” Gauff said. “It was really cool because I love watching the Heat, they’re my team. He has just, like, that mentality, that dog in him, something that I really admire a lot.
“I don’t know, today honestly I think was a really good day, not because of the win, but I just feel like…
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