The first game of the quarterfinal match between Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Miami Open was a lie. Gauff was broken, but that would be the last game she would lose in the set.
Gauff didn't stop there. Though she struggled (once again) with double faults in her first two service games, Muchova had zero answers for the American's athleticism and forehand brilliance early in the match. What made this more stunning is that the Czech had played an excellent tournament so far.
She seemed lost, missing shots she wouldn't normally do. She wasn't just trying to defeat one Gauff, but multiple ones. An open court was rare against the speed and defensive wizardry of Gauff, failing to even hold serve, even into the first game of the second set.
Coco Gauff dismantles Karolina Muchova at the 2026 Miami Open
Gauff got a break then, leading 1-0 and heading into her first service game of the second set after dominating set one 6-1. In her first service game of set two, Muchova had a chance to steal the first point but hit an easy winner into the net. It was going to be one of those days where she might wish she could simply throw in the towel.
The Czech had her chance in Gauff's first service game of the second set, and even got to break point, but Muchova displayed how her entire match had gone when at deuce she hit a forehand long for no real reason. She threw her racket. She would lose the game to fall down 0-2.
Karlina Muchova's next service game wasn't easier. She won just one point, kept hitting the ball long (and this point, she had nine winners and 28 unforced errors), and Gauff was swiftly up 3-0. The outcome seemed destined.
Muchova was able to hold trailing 0-4, but that was her first hold of the match. She still needed a miracle to come back to win, and that needed to start with Gauff's next service game. The American gave the Czech some help, too, double-faulting, as she often does, to fall to 15-40, but Muchova kept making errors and lost the game to fall to 1-5.
Karolina Muchova couldn't hold in her next game either, dropping the match 1-6 1-6. She made 36 unforced errors, and Guaff took full advantage.
With the victory, Coco Gauff moved back into No. 3 on the WTA tour in the live rankings, passing Iga Swiatek. Even in the loss, Muchova moved up to No. 12 with her run at the Miami Open.
Next for the American is facing the winner of the Aryna Sabalenka versus Elena Rybakina quarterfinal match. Whoever wins between the Belarusian and the Kazakh, their match against Gauff should make for must-watch tennis.