Despite dealing with an injury coming into the tournament, Coco Gauff has reached the Miami Open semi-finals for the first time in her career.
Gauff needed three sets to beat Belinda Bencic, but she produced one of her better serving displays against the Swiss star.
The American is yet to win her home tournament and now she is as close as she has ever been to lifting the trophy in front of her friends and family in Miami.
After securing her place in the final four, Gauff opened up about what her coaches have been saying to help her deal with her serving problems.
Coco Gauff shares coaching advice after Miami win
Gauff’s confidence has been rocked by her issues with her serve, and her coaches are trying their best to show the American that she still belongs in the elite conversation.
Speaking at her press conference after defeating Bencic, the American said: “I think I have to believe that I belong where I am.
“I think sometimes I can get imposter syndrome and even when they’re saying my accomplishments during the warm up, it doesn’t feel like me and I’m actually like: ‘Oh, I actually do have a good career.’
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“But it doesn’t feel like that sometimes in the moment because you’re working on things and, especially with my serve, it feels like I shouldn’t be where I am. Tennis doesn’t lie, the ball doesn’t lie.”
Gauff currently works with JC Faurel and Gavin MacMillan and they have been providing sage advice for the star.
“So I just have to believe myself and my coaches have been reminding me: ‘Remember who you are. You’re a good player.’
“They’ve been putting that into my head. Moments I believe in it and moments I don’t. I’ve just got to try and believe it more.”
Gauff has also beaten Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Sorana Cirstea, and Alycia Parks to continue her run at the Miami Open.
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Gauff will play Karolina Muchova next in the semi-finals, a player she has an absolutely sensational record against.
Muchova has been in fine form so far this year, which peaked when she won the Qatar Open earlier this year.
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However, she is yet to pick up a single victory against Gauff in a WTA Tour match despite them meeting five times since 2023.
All five of Gauff and Muchova’s meetings have come on hardcourt too, which should provide another boost for the American.
Their last meeting came earlier this year at the Australian Open, which saw Gauff knocked Muchova out of the round of 16.
That match marked the first time in her career that Muchova was able to take a set off the two-time Grand Slam champion.
