© Getty Pictures Sport – Carmen Mandato
Coco Gauff admitted in her Miami Open press convention that she want to face Naomi Osaka subsequent however then the Japanese misplaced her third-round match and the American’s hopes of assembly the four-time Grand Slam champion ended.
On Sunday, world No. 3 Gauff crushed qualifier Oceane Dodin 6-4 6-0 to achieve the Miami round-of-16. After Gauff, the following on the courtroom had been Osaka and Caroline Garcia, with the winner getting a crack on the top-ranked American feminine tennis participant within the round-of-16.
After ousting Dodin, Gauff was requested about Osaka coming to look at one among her US Open matches final 12 months – two months after giving beginning, the 26-year-old Japanese visited the US Open as a visitor.
Answering the query, Gauff referred to as Osaka “a champion” and highlighted she’d prefer to face her in Miami. Additionally, Gauff admitted that she was anticipating to play Osaka within the Indian Wells round-of-16 two weeks in the past however then the previous world No. 1 misplaced to Elise Mertens.
“I knew that she got here to the match after the match. I really did not see her within the stands,” Gauff mentioned.
“Yeah, I feel I anticipated to play her once more when she got here again on tour. Particularly her not being seeded as a result of her rating dropped slightly bit, you are going to get her finally. I actually thought I used to be going to play her in Indian Wells.
“I am hoping to play her right here. I feel now we have nice matches in opposition to one another. She’s positively a champion of our sport. No matter her being gone, I nonetheless suppose she’s among the finest arduous courtroom gamers. It will likely be an actual check for me.”
However after Gauff made these statements, Osaka went on to lose to Garcia 6-7 (4) 5-7. Had Osaka defeated Garcia, she and Gauff would have met for the fifth time of their careers in Miami – the head-to-head between them stands at 2-2.
Gauff on going through Garcia
A Gauff and Osaka match would have been extraordinarily enticing on paper however the one between Gauff and Garcia additionally seems extraordinarily thrilling. When Gauff, 20, and 30-year-old Garcia meet in Miami, it will likely be the fifth time that they’re going through one another.
After beating Garcia of their first assembly in 2021 Indian Wells, Gauff additionally defeated the Frenchwoman in Doha the next 12 months. However Garcia responded of their final two matches, beating Gauff on the 2022 US Open and the 2022 WTA Finals.
Forward of her first assembly in opposition to 2022 WTA Finals champion Garcia in a 12 months and a half, Gauff confirmed the final word respect for the Frenchwoman.
“Additionally with Caroline, she’s all the time a tricky participant to play. I feel the latest time we performed was US Open like two years in the past. In all probability even sooner. I am unable to keep in mind the latest time. I feel I misplaced to her the latest time,” Gauff mentioned of going through Garcia.
“She’s powerful. Everyone knows how she performs. Takes the ball tremendous early, performs very aggressive.”
Gauff on ousting Dodin, how she is feeling in Miami
Gauff really did not make a extremely good begin as Dodin had a 4-2 lead and two break factors for a 5-2 lead. However Gauff survived the powerful seventh sport after which did not drop a single sport within the the rest of the match. Ultimately, Gauff completed the match on a 10-game run.
“I feel as we speak was simply being aggressive in opposition to her. She’s a giant hitter. She likes the sport on her phrases. I used to be making an attempt my greatest to get deep within the courtroom and simply climate the storm,” Gauff mentioned.
To this point, Gauff has had two straight-set wins in Miami as she additionally destroyed Nadia Podoroska 6-1 6-2 in her event opener. Whereas Gauff is well-adjusted to the Florida situations, she admits she has but to completely regulate to the courtroom.
“Yeah, I am from right here, so I am very used to the warmth. I do suppose, like, middle courtroom is slower than the follow courts, however faster than it was at Indian Wells. It’s nonetheless, like I really feel like I am adjusting to the courtroom,” Gauff mentioned.
“General I really feel good so for. I am making an attempt to enhance with every match. Positively enjoying slightly bit higher than I used to be final week in Indian Wells. Actually proud of how I am bettering.”
Going into as we speak’s match with Garcia, Gauff actually enters as the favourite regardless of the Frenchwoman being a tricky opponent. It stays to be seen if Gauff can finish her two-match shedding streak in opposition to Garcia and attain her first Miami quarterfinal.