“Honestly, I kind of wanted to lose a game.”
That’s what Coco Gauff said after dismantling Sofia Kenin 6-0, 6-0 in just 47 minutes at the Miami Open. Yes—double bagel. Yes—straight fire.
The 21-year-old tennis phenom walked onto her home turf in Florida and delivered a masterclass in control, confidence, and pure athletic dominance. While most athletes would ride the high of such a performance, Gauff being Gauff… kept it real.
“I knew I was going to be nervous at 5-0,” she admitted post-match. “I kind of wanted to lose a game.” But spoiler alert—she didn’t. Because on that court, she was locked in.
Let’s be clear: Sofia Kenin isn’t just anyone. She’s the 2020 Australian Open champion and no stranger to big stages. But against Gauff, it was all one-way traffic. Coco dropped just 18 points. Eighteen. In an entire match.
This wasn’t just a win—it was a message.
From Setbacks to Statement Wins
Gauff’s season hasn’t exactly been the dream she imagined post-US Open glory. After starting 2025 with a stunning 9-0 streak, she’s gone 3-4 in her last seven matches. Her last tournament in Indian Wells ended earlier than expected, and her serve—usually one of her weapons—had been shaky. (21 double faults in one match? Ouch.)
But Miami is different. It’s home. Literally.
“I think it makes a difference when you’re playing in conditions you’re used to,” Gauff said. Growing up in nearby Delray Beach, she knows this humidity. She owns this court. And this time, her serve was sharp. Her shots were fearless. Her energy? Ruthless.
She hit 13 winners with just 3 unforced errors. She was surgical, strategic, and straight-up sensational.
A Star Who Keeps It Real
What makes Coco Gauff so magnetic isn’t just the way she plays—it’s how she speaks. She’s honest. Grounded. A 21-year-old superstar who doesn’t take anything for granted, not even a flawless win.
“I don’t know how many times it will happen again,” she said about the rare double-bagel. “Hopefully a little bit more, but I feel this is a one or two-time [in my] career type of thing.”
She’s self-aware, respectful of her opponents, and yet totally confident in her own power. It’s that balance that makes her a Gen Z icon. She’s rewriting the rulebook for young athletes, showing that being humble and hungry can go hand in hand.
More Than Just a Match
For Gauff, every match is a clean slate. A chance to get better, to grow, to prove something—not to others, but to herself. And this win? It was more than just a scoreline. It was a comeback. A re-centering. A glimpse of what’s to come.
As the Miami Open rolls on, Coco Gauff isn’t just in the tournament. She is the tournament.
And if this is how she starts? Buckle up, tennis world.
Neon Note: Coco is the embodiment of what it means to be a Neon Gurl—gritty, glowing, and unstoppable. We’ll be following her journey every step of the way.
#GauffGang #MiamiOpen #NeonPower
