Coco Gauff defeated Karolina Muchova 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinals of the Miami Open.
The world number four was excellent throughout, maintaining her perfect record against the Czech star.
But why was Gauff so dominant against Muchova?
Will Coco Gauff now win the Miami Open title?
British tennis legend Tim Henman thinks he has the answers.
Tim Henman thinks Coco Gauff got into Karolina Muchova’s head
During Sky Sports’ post-match coverage, Henman delivered his verdict on Gauff’s 6-1, 6-1 win over Muchova.
“It was absolutely brilliant, after the first five or six minutes, I thought we were going to have a real battle on our hands, with [Karolina] Muchova getting that break of serve in the first game, but the way Coco [Gauff] responded, she wasn’t flustered or anything,” said Henman.
“The first three games took 22 minutes, and that’s right up her alley; she loves those physically demanding points.
“Once she was able to break back and then break Muchova’s serve, which she did with regularity, it was just one-way traffic.
Coco Gauff vs Karolina Muchova – Match stats
| Stats | Coco Gauff | Karolina Muchova |
| Aces | 1 | 0 |
| Double faults | 5 | 1 |
| 1st Serve % | 64% | 68% |
| Win % on 1st Serve | 75% | 50% |
| Win % on 2nd Serve | 47% | 21% |
| Break points | 6/11 | 1/8 |
| Points won | 70 | 46 |
“I think her physical capabilities kind of got into the head of Muchova.
“It just didn’t look like she had a plan as to how she was going to get around or through Coco, although she made that good start, breaking in the first game, the unforced errors continued to mount.
“Muchova was trying to bring variation to each and every rally, but then she took more and more risks, and the unforced errors flowed.
“I think she was looking for solutions, and when you reflect on their head-to-head, they played five times prior to this, and Muchova had only won a set, and that perhaps is where it was also psychological as well as technical and physical.”
Henman believes Gauff will have been pleased to wrap up the win in straight sets after four marathon matches.
“That is where she will take so much confidence, because she is obviously working so hard on some of the frailties in her game, whether it’s the second serve or the forehand, but it was a really sort of clean, competent, efficient performance,” he said.
Coco Gauff at the 2026 Miami Open
- 2R [WIN] vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 (2hr, 15)
- 3R [WIN] vs Alycia Parks, 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 (1hr, 50)
- 4R [WIN] vs Sorana Cirstea, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 (1hr, 59)
- QF [WIN] vs Belinda Bencic, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 (2hr, 15)
- SF [WIN] vs Karolina Muchova, 6-1, 6-1 (1hr, 30)
“At the end of a long tournament, she’s played a lot of tournaments, she plays a lot of tennis throughout the year because she makes semis and finals so often, I’m sure she will have been happy with a quick, straight sets victory.”
Gauff will now look to rest up ahead of Saturday’s final, where she will play either Aryna Sabalenka or Elena Rybakina.
Karolina Muchova’s game plan criticised by Annabel Croft
It was a good day at the office for Gauff, but questions will be asked about Muchova’s performance.
The Qatar Open champion wasn’t at her best, and according to Annabel Croft, she got her tactics all wrong.
“I must admit, I didn’t see that coming. I thought we were in for a real three-set tussle today,” said Croft.
“After that first game of the match, really important game that one, Muchova went away from it, too many unforced errors, they had a lot of deuce, advantage games throughout the course of that first set, but it was always Coco Gauff that came out on top.
“I just feel like Muchova played to her backhand, and her strengths, too many times.
“Gauff was very solid, very secure, especially off that forehand wing.
“Ok, she had a wobble at 4-1 in the second set, but overcame that as well.
“Ultimately, she was just better in every single department.
“Too many unforced errors from Muchova, just a bit of an off day.
“That will feel good [for Gauff], after all those three-set tussles, two sets, yes!”
Muchova, now up to 11th in the Live WTA Rankings, will return to action at the Stuttgart Open on clay next month.
