On Monday in Miami Gardens in the Round of 16, Garcia struck again in upsetting the third-seeded Gauff, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 in Gauff’s hometown tournament at the Miami Open.
Gauff, who lost in Miami in the third round in 2023, still is looking for a breakthrough at a tournament at which she commutes from Delray Beach.While Gauff has a Grand Slam title from the 2023 U.S. Open, she has failed to weave any success in Miami despite the Dolphins Stadium crowd being all for the 20-year-old local sensation.
“I think honestly it’s just tough matches over the years,’’ Gauff said in explaining her Miami woes. “I feel like I know how to play with home pressure, especially after the whole U.S. swing last year, so I didn’t feel any nerves coming in today or at all this week.