Gauff takes the lead in Miami

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I feel sorry for anyone who bought a ticket, but what a performance by Cori Gauff this Thursday to reach the final of the Miami Open. Or rather, how far away Karolina Muchova was from what we had seen all week (6-1, 6-1).

The match started with a surprise, although we know that in the women's circuit, seeing a break is not so rare. It was Karolina Muchova who first pulled out the machete to break her opponent's serve, causing those first signs of anguish. Cori Gauff found herself in a dream situation, fighting to advance to the final of a tournament that has always eluded her. She had never gone this far in Miami, the pieces had never aligned in her favor, so a battle like this at the beginning only fueled her desperation. What did she do to fix it? Pay back in kind, with a break back that set off alarm bells for the viewer. For one reason or another, maybe we were witnessing a match where anything could happen, even the unthinkable.

And within the realm of the unthinkable, precisely what ended up happening entered. Cori Gauff was so satisfied to score that first break that the idea crossed her mind of not losing any more games. And so she did, stringing together six games in a row to seal the first set 6-1. A set that lasted 50 minutes, although only the first three games took half an hour. What was happening to Muchova? That's what we all thought as we saw her arrive late to the balls, make so many errors, displaying that version that lacks cunning and has often deprived her of greater opportunities. The 6-1 score was painful for a talent that doesn't always get along well with consistency, although today she didn't have the best possible opponent against her.

According to their head-to-head record, the five encounters they had had so far had all gone the same way. Every time they met on the court, Gauff was there to impose her style, a way that fits many to dominate from the first point, but that generates some anxiety for others who don't know what to do all the time with the initiative. The Czech will never be a big hitter, hence she also enjoys when she has to fight back, something that rarely happens against the American. Old scenes from the past appeared in her mind, defeats against the same opponent she struggles to figure out. If today was supposed to be the day of change, the plan certainly didn't start as desired.

With doubts on the table, in the minds of the players and the fans alike, the second set began much like the first. A break at the start for Gauff this time - she was the first to raise her hand - followed by a second lengthy game, with opportunities on both sides, although the Delray Beach player was already in a competitive sweet spot. Her slam door resonated in the teary eyes of Muchova, who in just one hour was trailing 6-1 and 2-0. A disappointing situation for, surely, the player who had shown the most brilliance throughout the tournament so far.

A Punishment Without Right of Reply

We all love Karolina's game, I doubt we will disagree on that. The issue has never been that, but how many times she struggles to compete, hold on to the court, stay competitive in important matches. It may sound strange when less than a month ago we saw her lift her first WTA 1000 title in Doha, the problem is that there have been many more stumbles on judgment days than victories. With a distorted face and a language of being affected, as the minutes passed, Gauff pushed Muchova further into the corner and left her with a bitter taste, suffering one of those losses that makes us question once again what rank the European player should really hold. For now, with performances like this, she has work ahead if she wants to reach the top.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Gauff se viene arriba en Miami