2023 MIAMI OPEN: COCO SURVIVES SHAKY START, DEFEATS MARINO TO ADVANCE TO THIRD ROUND

Coco Gauff survived a shaky performance in her opener at the 2023 Miami Open tournament with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Rebecca Marino on Thursday to advance to the third round.

Gauff coming off a quarterfinals appearance at Indian Wells converted five of her nine break points but admitted it wasn’t her best outing. She had come from a break down twice in the second set to claim her career win against Marino, having defeated her in the first round in Roland Garros in 2022.

“It was a shaky performance, honestly,” Guaff said during a television interview according to ESPN.

Gauff playing in her hometown at the Hard Rock Stadium where the tournament is played, further said,

“I knew it wasn’t going to be a straightforward match, even if I was up a break sometimes.”

She also survived the home crowd pressure including Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat who was among the attendance during the match.

“Jimmy Butler is here so I was a little nervous when I saw him,” Gauff said during a post- match interview.

“Playing home is something I look forward to, but it’s also a little bit of extra pressure because everyone wants you to do well here.”

She will face 27 seeded Anastasia Potapova in her third round match.

In other matches No.14 seeded Victoria Azarenka defeated Camilia Giorgi 6-3, 6-1 to reach the third round and will face Magda Linette, No.13 seeded Beatriz Haddad Main won her match against Tereza Martincova 7-6 (4), 0-6, 6-0. 

While Elise Mertens eliminated N.8 seed Daria Kasatkina 4-6, 6-2,6-2 and will face No.29 Petra Martic next. No. 23 Qinwen Zheng also advanced to the third round after defeating Irina-Camelia Begu 2-6, 6-1, 6-1.