The World No. 3 stood out by striking the ball three meters behind the baseline, prompting the on-court interviewer to ask whose game she modeled her own after.

“The greatest clay court player is Rafa. I don’t quite play like him, but I do try to hit my forehand like he does on clay. I don’t run around as much because my forehand isn’t as good as Rafa’s, but I try to hit it more like him,” Gauff said during her post-match interview.

Gauff’s hilarious comparison to Nadal

When the interviewer suggested that Gauff could be seen as a right-handed version of the Spaniard, the American quickly interjected with a self-deprecating joke. “Like a Walmart version of Rafa. I don’t wanna be obliterated online; I’m like a lesser version than Rafa, okay?” Gauff said with a laugh.

Gauff’s comment about not wanting to be “obliterated online” stems from her past experiences with social media criticism. During the Miami Open, where she reached the final but fell to Aryna Sabalenka, she revealed she had to step away from X (formerly Twitter), labeling the platform “a bit toxic“.

After the Miami tournament, Gauff briefly returned to the platform on April 6, only to post a message indicating she was stepping away again: “deleted twitter for a month, came back today, and got instantly reminded why I should not be on here lol.” That remains her last post to date.

When does Gauff play next?

Gauff is set to face Karolina Muchova in the Stuttgart Open quarterfinals on Friday, April 17. While Gauff holds a dominant 6-0 lead in their head-to-head record, the World No. 3 is not taking her past success for granted.

“Anyone can win on any day. You take what you did well in the last matches and try to do it again. Anything can happen. She’s a great player and a great clay-court player. I don’t take any of those matches into account,” Gauff remarked about the upcoming clash.

[Watch Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff live in the USA on Fubo]

American tennis fans have plenty to look forward to, with Coco Gauff putting herself in position to compete for another title after a dominant 6-1, 6-1 semifinal win over Karolína Muchová. Gauff looked sharp from the opening serve and now shifts her focus to a massive final challenge against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

The Belarussian arrives in top form after taking down Elena Rybakina in the Indian Wells semifinals. With Sabalenka chasing another Masters 1000 crown and Gauff eyeing a statement win on home soil, the stage is set for a high-stakes showdown that promises intensity from the first point to the last.

When will the Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff match be played?

Aryna Sabalenka plays against Coco Gauff in the 2026 Miami Open Women’s Final this Saturday, March 28. The action will start at 3:00 PM (ET).

Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff: Time by State in the USA

ET: 3:00 PM
CT: 2:00 PM
MT: 1:00 PM
PT: 12:00 PM

How to watch Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff in the USA

Don’t miss this electrifying 2026 Miami Open clash between Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff live on Fubo. Other options: Tennis Channel, DirecTV and Hulu + Live TV.

When asked if she combs through social media for similar “scouting reports,” Sabalenka was candid about the double-edged sword of online feedback.

“Of course I see some of the things… but for some reason, I see more negative than positive about myself,” Sabalenka admitted.

However, the reigning Australian Open champion didn’t miss a beat when it came to the strategic implications of Gauff‘s “crowdsourced” tactics. If the two stars meet in a hypothetical final, Sabalenka knows exactly what to look for.

“Well, if it helped her, it helped. We’re all different, right?” Sabalenka said with a grin. “Thanks for telling me… now I’m going to be ready for her coming to the net.”

A Sabalenka-Gauff finale?

The rivalry between Sabalenka and Gauff has quickly become one of the most compelling narratives on the WTA Tour. Sabalenka has previously dubbed the young American her toughest opponent, and fans are already eyeing a potential heavyweight title bout in Miami.

The path to that final, however, remains grueling:

• The Quarterfinals: Sabalenka is set to face Hailey Baptiste on Wednesday.
• The Semifinals: Awaiting the winner of that match is a looming showdown with powerhouse Elena Rybakina.
• The Final: On the other side of the bracket, Coco Gauff must navigate her own path past Karolina Muchova to set the stage for a blockbuster rematch against the Belarusian.

If the seeds hold, Miami is on track for a dream final between two of the hardest hitters in the game.

H2H: Sabalenka vs Gauff

In the wake of her victory over the American tennis sensation, Sabalenka appeared on a podcast to discuss the current toughest competitors she faces on the WTA circuit. She candidly identified Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek as her most formidable opponents to date.

“They have incredible movement. Sometimes you build a point, and with others, that shot might have been a winner, but against them, you often have to rework the point. Physically and mentally, it’s quite challenging,” Sabalenka explained regarding the world No. 2 and No. 3 in her appearance on Jay Shetty’s Podcast.

Gauff and Swiatek have been dominating headlines in the tennis world, and Sabalenka was forthright in her assessment of these two extraordinary players. Both have clinched at least one Grand Slam in recent years, delivering outstanding performances that have solidified their status among the world’s best.

Sabalenka’s inspirational message

During her appearance on the podcast, Sabalenka delivered a heartfelt message to those outside the realm of tennis, asserting her belief in being an inspiration. Sabalenka emphasized the importance of pursuing one’s passions, encouraging people to think about what they love and follow it wholeheartedly.

“People need to find something they love because when you love something, that’s what drives you to go and accomplish the things you need to do. And then you do better and improve, it’s pretty important,” Sabalenka shared with Jay Shetty on his podcast.

Sabalenka’s dedication after US Open triumph

Upon her victory at the US Open, the world number one chose to dedicate her triumph to a very special person who is no longer with her: her father. “When my dad passed away, I felt depressed. But I decided to use it as motivation to make our family name memorable in history. He became my strength,” Sabalenka said.

Now, as the WTA circuit progresses, Sabalenka aims to maintain her top spot in the global rankings, a position she has held for most of 2023. Despite the remarkable performances from competitors like Gauff and Swiatek, Sabalenka is determined to continue inspiring others through her dedication and success.

Despite not meeting some expectations for an outstanding performance, Gauff secured a hard-fought 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 7-5 victory. She attributed adjustments in her serve as a key factor in overcoming past struggles and gaining an edge over Tomljanovic.

“It was a tough match, I had a chance to win it in straight sets. It wasn’t the best, but I’m happy to get through,” Gauff remarked. “It has been really tough, mentally exhausting, but I’m trying.” Her comments reflect her ongoing efforts to refine her serve, a crucial aspect of her game she continues to develop.

Gauff’s serve statistics highlighted progress, with a 60% first serve success rate, winning 66% of those points. Her second serve secured a 60% win rate, accompanied by four aces, signaling that despite her mental challenges, the American player is making significant strides in her game.

Gauff reflects on her matchup against Tomljanovic

After her latest match, American tennis sensation shared her thoughts on facing Tomljanovic, acknowledging the challenges she encountered during the match. Despite playing on home turf, Gauff found no shortage of competition as Tomljanovic brought her best game to the court.

“I had so many chances; eventually, they’ll come, and I’ll close out in the next games. Some of these will eventually go my way, and I’ll be able to win the match,” Gauff told the US Open organization following her first-round victory.

Gauff’s upcoming challenge at the US Open

As the US Open continues, Gauff, who triumphed in this tournament in 2023, prepares for her next challenge. She will face Croatian tennis player Donna Vekic in the second round. Vekic showcased her resilience by defeating Spain’s Jessica Bouzas in three sets, rallying after a first-set loss.

As the tournament progresses, Gauff aims to cement her status among the top contenders in the latter stages. Despite her recent victory at Roland Garros, she is keen on refining aspects of her game that have posed challenges in previous WTA circuit matches this year.

Gauff powered past Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti 6-2, 6-4 in the Cincinnati Open’s Round of 16 and will next face either Jasmine Paolini or Barbora Krejcikova in the quarterfinals.

But beyond advancing, Thursday’s win secured her a place in history, surpassing none other than Serena Williams — a legend of American tennis alongside her sister Venus.

Since the Tier I/WTA 1000 format was introduced in 1990, Gauff has now reached 19 quarterfinals at that level before turning 22, edging past Williams’ mark of 18. That total ranks her third all-time, trailing only Maria Sharapova (20) and Martina Hingis, whose jaw-dropping 39 quarterfinals before the age of 22 may never be touched.

Gauff on her game plan against Bronzetti

Gauff entered the Round of 16 far fresher than her opponent. While Bronzetti had battled through three matches to reach this stage, Gauff had played just once after her previous opponent, Dayana Yastremska, withdrew. The extra rest showed.

The American said her strategy was to stay aggressive from the start — and it worked. Bronzetti struggled to counter Gauff’s pace and precision, falling in straight sets to a player who had enjoyed four days off between matches.

“For the most part I played aggressive,” Gauff said in her on-court interview. “Maybe got a little passive in some of those games. But it’s tough — the balls are super light and they fly, and she wasn’t giving me much pace, so I was just trying to play controlled but also aggressive“.

Gauff was stunned in straight sets by wildcard Victoria Mboko in the last 16, leaving Swiatek with a golden opportunity to overtake her in the rankings if she went all the way and claimed the title. However, Clara Tauson dashed those hopes with a 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 victory.

Gauff currently holds the No. 2 spot with 7,789 points, while Swiatek trails by 856 points. Both players remain well behind World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (12,225 points), who opted not to compete in the tournament.

The World No. 2 battle continues in Cincinnati

Swiatek will get another chance at the Cincinnati Open, though she faces an uphill task. She starts the tournament with an 846-point deficit—the current 856-point gap minus the 10 points Gauff is defending after her second-round exit in 2024.

The Pole has no points to defend from last year’s WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati, as her 390 points from reaching the semi-finals were removed following a positive test for the banned substance trimetazidine after the tournament.

Swiatek will need to win the tournament (worth 1,000 points) and hope that Gauff exits early. However, she admits she still needs to rediscover her rhythm on hard courts following the grass-court season, despite coming with a great nine-match winning streak.

“I still feel like I kind of need to transition on hard courts. And these matches are also kind of to learn again,” the six-time Grand Slam winner said after her defeat. “I feel like I did kind of the same mistakes I did at the end of my hard court season in March.”

Meanwhile, Gauff has struggled with her serve. In her three-set win over Danielle Collins, she recorded 24 double faults, and against Veronika Kudermetova, she added another 14. Against Mboko, she committed five more.

Wimbledon is around the corner, and the expectations are high for the third Grand Slam of the season. Coco Gauff, who is coming from winning Roland Garros, and World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka are the two favorites to lift the title, but legend Martina Navratilova named an unexpected candidate to the title: Madison Keys.

“After winning Australia, there’s a huge weight off her shoulders,” the former world No 1 told WTATennis.com about the American star, who won the first major of the year. “Weapons are what win on grass and she’s got them. I think she’s the third favourite to win the tournament, after Sabalenka and not far behind Gauff.”

In January, Keys won her maiden Slam in Melbourne with a strong run in which she defeated Iga Swiatek, then World No. 2, and Sabalenka on route to the title. It was the first time that any woman beat the two top seeds to win a major since 2009.

At 29, she also became both the oldest first-time women’s Australian Open champion and the player with the longest gap between their first two major finals in the Open Era. She reached her first one in 2017 at the US Open, losing to Sloane Stephens. However, during the clay season, her best results were two quarter-finals (in Madrid and Roland Garros).

To prepare for Wimbledon, she reached the semifinals in Queen’s, losing to Tatjana Maria and in Berlin, she was edged by Marketa Vondrousova, 2023 Wimbledon champion. Keys, on the other hand, has her best win-loss percentage on grass than any other surface, according to Tennis Live: 71.43%. At Wimbledon, her best result is reaching the quarter-finals (2015, 2018, 2023, and 2024).

Navratilova puts Sabalenka as the first favorite for Wimbledon

While Sabalenka has lost her last two Grand Slam finals, Navratilova thinks that Wimbledon could be the place in which she finds her charm. “Looking at her record, it’s hard to think she’s not the favourite this year,” she said. “She’s a complete player and has a good game for grass.

“It’s hard to find a weakness or an opening against her. I’m wondering if losing the French Open final will actually help motivate her. I think she finds herself in a good spot,” she added. However, she called Gauff the “best athlete in the women’s game.”

“That should pay off for her, and she’s flying high after winning the French Open. It’s just about managing her game, managing her body, her emotions. She’s found the happy medium, the equilibrium between being focused and fired up,” she added.

Wimbledon starts on June 30, and the major has been in the past three years, three different winners have emerged: Elena Rybakina, Vondrousova and defending champion for this edition, Barbora Krejcikova.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is aiming to leave the clay-court swing behind at the Berlin Open, in which she will play in preparation for Wimbledon at the end of the month. However, the Belarusian has addressed her loss to Coco Gauff in the Roland Garros final, not only apologizing for her “unprofessional” comments after the match, but also revealing what she learned from the experience.

In an interview with Eurosport Germany, Sabalenka was asked about how she dealt with the criticism she received for blaming the conditions, as well as saying that Iga Swiatek, whom she beat in the semifinals, would have won the match against Gauff.

“I have to agree, that was just completely unprofessional of me. I let my emotions get the better of me. I absolutely regret what I said back then. You know, we all make mistakes. I’m just a human being who’s still learning in life,” she said, while revealing she wrote to the American star to apologize.

“I wanted to apologize and make sure she knew she absolutely deserved to win the tournament and that I respect her. I never intended to attack her. I was super emotional and not very smart at that press conference,” she added.

Sabalenka explained that she had to see the experience with “open eyes” to learn what was holding her back. “I realized a lot about myself. Why did I lose so many finals? I kept getting so emotional. So I learned a lot. Above all, one thing: I’m the one who always treats my opponents with great respect—whether I win or lose. Without that respect, I wouldn’t be where I am today. So it was a tough but very valuable lesson for me,” she concluded.

Sabalenka is aiming to return to Wimbledon after missing it last year

After losing two finals in two majors this year, Sabalenka will aim to get to a third at Wimbledon. The World No. 1 will return to London after she missed the tournament last year due to injury, which she sustained while playing in Berlin. However, she is confident to bring her new perspective to the tournament.

“We all have the same goal: to win the tournament. I’ve built a lot of self-confidence over the years, but at the same time, I’ve realized: It has nothing to do with self-confidence. It’s about how willing you are to go out on the court and compete, even when things aren’t going so well. It’s about how willing you are to go out there and fight for what you want,” she said.

Despite the losses, Sabalenka has been one of the most dominant players of the year. She won Miami and Madrid, and reached the final at Indian Wells. Also, with over 3,000 points of advantage over Gauff, she is set to remain at the World No. 1.

After dropping the opening set in a nail-biting 7-6(5) tiebreak, Gauff found her rhythm in the second, cruising to a commanding 6-2 win as Sabalenka struggled with unforced errors.

In the decisive third set, Sabalenka initially took the lead, but Gauff maintained her composure, showcasing exceptional tennis to seal the set 6-4 and secure the championship.

With this victory, the 22-year-old American clinched her second Grand Slam title, adding to her 2023 U.S. Open triumph. She also became the youngest American to win the French Open singles title since Serena Williams achieved the feat in 2002.

Coco Gauff has been one of tennis’ rising stars in recent years. Already a Grand Slam winner, the American star, currently World No. 2, has made her way to the top of the WTA elite. While she has already revealed who she considers to be the GOAT of tennis, she recently opened up about which athletes inspired her outside of tennis.

“Sydney McLaughlin is someone I really like and look up to in that way,” she said of the two-time Olympic hurdler and sprinter. She also had some words for Simone Biles, who has won 11 Olympic medals.

“She just pushes herself and to me that’s crazy because in tennis we had Rafa, Roger and Novak all pushing each other, but in gymnastics, she doesn’t have anyone. So, the fact that she’s been able to move against herself. I think it is pretty cool,” she said during a press conference in Roland Garros.

Gauff also mentioned some basketball legends. “You have the obvious like LeBron, Michael and Kobe, that Mamba mentality. Those are people I look up to outside of tennis, but in tennis, it’s the usual: Serena, Rafa, Novak and Roger. The best of the best,” she added.

The 21-year-old has won nine career singles titles, including the 2023 US Open and 2024 WTA Finals, and nine doubles titles, including the 2024 French Open. With her win over Lois Boisson on Wednesday, Gauff has reached her second singles final at Roland Garros.

Gauff’s 2025 season so far: She could add her second major win in singles

Gauff opened the year with a strong performance, going unbeaten at the United Cup and leading Team USA to the title with a straight-sets win over Iga Swiatek. At the Australian Open, Gauff reached the quarterfinals before falling to Paula Badosa, ending her 13-match win streak.

While she was eliminated at the Round of 16 in both Miami and Indian Wells, she rebounded strongly on clay, reaching the finals in both Madrid and Rome with key wins over top-ranked players. Now, at Roland Garros she could add her second major win in singles, but first she will have to beat Aryna Sabalenka in the final on Saturday.

Either way, Gauff has made history as the youngest player to reach 25 career wins at Roland Garros since Martina Hingis achieved the feat in 2000. Hingis was just 19 when she hit that milestone in Paris.