Coco Gauff Opens Up on Mental Battle After Reaching Miami Open Semifinals

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The American tennis sensation Coco Gauff reached the Miami Open semi-finals for the first time in her career after defeating Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic on Tuesday. However, after the match she disclosed that the unfamiliar arm injury is not the only thing the world no.4 is fighting against. She also struggles with ‘imposter syndrome.’

The 22-year-old beat Bencic 6-3 1-6 6-3 on Tuesday, advancing to the last four of the WTA 1000 event in Florida after failing to progress beyond the fourth round in her previous six attempts.

The South Florida native recovered after Bencic moved ahead 3-2 in the deciding set with a service break, breaking straight back and reeling off four consecutive games to close out the match.

Gauff leaned on her returning strength against Bencic, converting nine of 13 break-point chances. The American also had to overcome pressure on her own serve, saving just one of the five break points she faced.

Coco is EVERYWHERE 🤯#MiamiOpen | @CocoGauff | @TennisTV pic.twitter.com/sytNBexak7

— Miami Open (@MiamiOpen) March 25, 2026

Coco Gauff Struggles Self-Belief

With the win, she also became the youngest American to reach the women’s singles semi-finals in Miami since Serena Williams in 2004. However, in the post match interview, Gauff told reporters, “I think sometimes I can get impostor syndrome.”

“Even when they are saying my accomplishments when I walk on or during the warm-up, it doesn’t feel like me and I’m like, ‘Oh, actually, you do have a good career’.

“But it doesn’t feel like that sometimes. When you’re working on things, and especially with my serve, it just feels like I shouldn’t be where I am. But tennis doesn’t lie, the ball doesn’t lie, so I just have to believe in myself.”

Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion, said her coach has been focused on helping her build confidence. “At moments, I believe in it, and other moments, I don’t. I’m just trying to believe in it more,” she said.

Guaff’s Next Match

Gauff will next face 13th seed Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic, who defeated Canada’s Victoria Mboko, the 10th seed, 7-5 7-6(5).

The matchup appears favourable for the American, who improved to 5-0 against Muchova with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory in the fourth round of this year’s Australian Open in their most recent meeting.