MIAMI – The Miami Open witnessed the exit of two former Grand Slam champions, Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka, in the Round of 16. This clears the path for No. 6 seed Jasmine Paolini and unseeded Magda Linette to compete in the quarterfinals.
Linette defeated No. 3 seed Gauff in straight sets, marking her most significant victory against a top-ranked player on the WTA Tour. Gauff acknowledged her poor performance, stating she felt “awful in everything on the court.”
Paolini secured her quarterfinal spot by winning a three-set match against Osaka. This victory breaks Paolini`s previous losing streak in Round of 16 matches this year.
Key Takeaways:
Paolini`s Consistency Returns: After a successful 2024 season, Paolini is regaining her form, marked by consistent play. She is now on a three-match winning streak, improving her record against former No. 1 ranked players.
Paolini expressed her happiness at reaching her first quarterfinal of 2025 and gaining confidence from this win, especially praising the high level of play in the match.
Linette`s Strong Performance: Magda Linette, at 33, achieved a notable victory, her first Top 10 win since defeating Paolini last year. Linette capitalized on Gauff`s double faults and maintained solid service games.
Linette attributed part of her advantage to observing Gauff`s matches frequently, allowing her to recognize when Gauff might be having an off day. She emphasized her strategy of pressuring Gauff`s serve and maintaining a brave and solid game.
Linette`s quarterfinal appearance in Miami is only her second at the WTA 1000 level, highlighting her strong performance in this tournament.
Upcoming Match: Paolini vs. Linette: Looking ahead, Linette holds a slight 2-1 advantage in head-to-head matches against Paolini. Paolini anticipates an aggressive approach in their upcoming quarterfinal, aiming to minimize errors and maintain agility. Linette expects a challenging match, emphasizing the need to adjust to the court`s quicker pace and maintain her level of steadiness and discipline from her previous match.
