Coco Gauff’s Next Challenge: An All-American Match Against Sofia Kenin In Miami Open

Two ex-Grand Slam champions will clash on Friday in the second round of the Miami Open when Coco Gauff meets Sofia Kenin. It will be their fifth career clash, as the two players seek to recover form after uneven 2025 campaigns.

Match Preview

Gauff’s recent tournaments without reaching the last 16 since her Australian Open quarter-finals appearance in January. As for the 2023 US Open champion, she too has struggled with her serve all year, with a whopping 104 double faults this season disrupting her rhythm. Even so, her first serve is still a weapon, winning 73.3 percent of points, and she has been steady in break-point situations, converting 56.1 percent.

The 21-year-old Atlanta native will have to slash errors to prevent another early exit, having lost in the first round of two of her last three tournaments.

Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, comes into this match with momentum after winning 6-4, 7-5 against two-time Grand Slam winner Petra Kvitova in the first round. She posted an 88 percent first-serve percentage and committed only one double fault, demonstrating she is capable of handling high-pressure situations.

The Moscow-born American is 26 and has won her opening match in four straight tournaments since she was eliminated in the first round of the Australian Open. Her return game is still a lot to be desired, winning only 27.5% of return games in 2025.

Head-to-Head

The rivalry is deadlocked at two wins each, but Gauff won when they last played at the 2025 Australian Open (6-3, 6-3). Kenin, though, won their Wimbledon 2023 matchup.

Prediction: Gauff to Win

Despite Kenin’s grit, Gauff’s better serve and hunger to rally could prove to be the difference in a close matchup.