Coco Gauff admits to being lucky during her win over fellow American Alycia Parks in the third round of the Miami Open.
Gauff defeated Parks 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 after one hour and 50 minutes, having also needed three sets to get past Elisabetta Cocciaretto in her opener.
The Miami Open fourth seed and world number four now takes on Sorana Cirstea in the round of 16 of the WTA 1000 tournament.
Before that, however, Gauff has analysed her latest victory, explaining that holding her serve was an important part of her game plan.
Where will Coco Gauff be ranked at the end of the 2026 season?
Coco Gauff admits to being ‘lucky’ in Miami Open win vs Alycia Parks
After the victory in the round of 32, Gauff said: “I think for me it was honestly just staying on my serve.
“I felt like obviously I was able to get a bunch of breaks later on. But for me the start of the first, that long game, I mean, second, that long game was important.
“And I needed to pull my serve. I didn’t, I mean, I got lucky because I did get a lot of breaks. But, honestly, I wasn’t expecting that.
“I just knew I had to hold my serve and maybe put some pressure on her serve. And I would get some breaks.”
Prove us wrong…
Coco Gauff continues double fault struggles despite Miami win
Gauff has now won both of her career meetings with compatriot Parks, who she praised after their latest match.
“It was really difficult,” she said. “She was playing really well and she’s one of those people who’s hit or miss sometimes.
“So, you’re stuck in the fine line of being aggressive but also maybe just making her play. And I think I got too stuck on the other end of it.
“And then the second and third, I just tried to be aggressive when I could. I made some adjustments on the return and I think that made a difference.”
The American superstar will now be eyeing another Miami Open win against Cirstea, with whom she has a 1-0 record.
However, she enters the match on the back of a huge eight double faults against Parks, continuing her major struggles in that area.
| Alycia Parks | Coco Gauff | |
| 5 | Aces | 6 |
| 8 | Double faults | 8 |
| 53.2% 42/79 | 1st serve | 59.6% 53/89 |
| 64.3% 27/42 | 1st serve points won | 67.9% 36/53 |
| 32.4% 12/37 | 2nd serve points won | 47.2% 17/36 |
| 13 | Break points faced | 16 |
| 53.8% 7/13 | Break points saved | 87.5% 14/16 |
| 11 | Service games played | 11 |
She has already reached 120 for the 2026 season so far, more than any other player, having finished top of that unwanted list in both 2024 and 2025.
Despite those issues, Gauff has shown remarkable ability and resilience to claim 11 career titles, including two Grand Slams.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
