Fourth seed Coco Gauff cruised past Karolina Muchova to reach the Miami Open final, setting up a 13th career showdown with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Gauff was in control against Muchova, conceding just two games in a 6-1 6-1 victory that lasted an hour and a half, although the match was more difficult that the scoreline suggests. The 22-year-old from Florida was broken in her opening service game, but quickly regrouped and went on a remarkable streak, capturing 10 consecutive games to take full command against the 13th-seeded Czech.
In the championship match on Saturday, Gauff will take on Sabalenka, the reigning titleholder, who secured her spot by defeating Elena Rybakina in straight sets.
Earlier this month, Sabalenka had turned the tables on Rybakina by beating her in the Indian Wells final, after previously falling to the Kazakhstani player in the Australian Open final. In Miami, she once again came out on top, winning 6-4 6-3.
Thanks to her run to the final, Gauff is set to climb to world No. 3, overtaking former top-ranked player Iga Swiatek. This marks her first appearance in the final of the WTA 1000 event in Miami.
