Sports activities Mole previews Friday’s Miami Birth 2nd-round match between Coco Gauff and Sofia Kenin, including predictions, get hold of and their head-to-head narrative.
In an all-American showdown featuring two outmoded Sizable Slam champions, Coco Gauff takes on Sofia Kenin in the round of 64 at the Miami Birth on Friday.
Kenin evolved to this stage because of the a straight sets victory over Petra Kvitova 6-4 7-5, constructing a rematch from the opening round of the Australian Birth in January.
Match preview
© Imago
Since her bustle to the quarter-finals of the Australian Birth first and main of the yr, Coco Gauff has hit a rough patch in the singles plot, no longer making it beyond the final 16 in her earlier three tournaments.
Gauff will seemingly be weary of facing any individual with the pedigree of Kenin, seeing as the 21-yr-venerable born in Atlanta has misplaced her opening round match in two of her earlier three singles events, struggling a straight sets defeat to American McCartney Kessler in her first match at the Dubai Birth in February (4-6 5-7).
The 2023 US Birth champion has assuredly been her get worst enemy in 2025 with 104 double faults, which absorb cancelled out her 69 aces.
Her first support is nonetheless comparatively strong, boasting a a hit percentage of 73.3 for the yr, despite the truth that that quantity jumps down vastly on 2nd serves to 38.6%.
On the identical time, she has saved 57.6% of her damage elements thus far this yr, which has enabled her to accumulate 73.9% of her service games.
On the opposite hand, she has converted 56.1% of her damage elements in 2025 and received 45.7% of her return elements, so it is miles somewhat puzzling that she has no longer fared as properly in contemporary tournaments.
© Imago
After a gruesome exit in the opening round of the 2024 Miami Birth versus American qualifier Katie Volynets, Sofia Kenin was ready to factual about a of those wrongs in the first round of the match this yr.
The 2020 Australian Birth champion overcame 13 aces from her opponent on Wednesday, while boasting an 88% first support percentage and a 71% a hit percentage on her first support.
She received four of her six damage-level alternatives, but most importantly, made few errors, with a mere one double fault in the match.
Since her opening round defeat at the Aussie Birth in January, the 26-yr-venerable who was born in Moscow has received her opening match in her final four singles match appearances.
For the yr, she has a significant-support percentage of 70.5 while a hit 65.4% of her first-support games and 75.1% of her service games general.
She has been ready to construct 54.5% of her damage elements in 2025 but has handiest been ready to accumulate 27.5% of her return games to this level of the yr.
Tournament thus far
Sofia Kenin:
First round: vs. Petra Kvitova 6-4 7-5
Head To Head
Australian Birth (2020) – Round of 16: Kenin wins 6-7 (7-5) 6-3 6-0
ASB Basic (2023) – 2d Round: Gauff wins 6-4 6-4
Wimbledon (2023) – First Round: Kenin wins 6-4 4-6 6-2
Australian Birth (2025) – First Round: Gauff wins 6-3 6-3
When these two first squared off in Melbourne in 2020, Kenin recovered from a gap get 22 situation defeat and at final took account for of the bump into, failing to give up a single game in the decisive third get 22 situation, en path to a hit the match.
Three years later, at the ASB Basic in Novel Zealand, Gauff received her revenge with 9 aces while a hit 75% of her first serves to notify a straight sets victory.
For the length of that summer at the All England Club, Kenin pulled away after a end opening two sets, a hit 76% of her 2nd serves and four damage elements.
In their earlier meeting at Rod Laver Arena in January, Kenin was no match for Gauff’s support, with the latter hitting 12 aces and a hit 77% of her first serves for a pleased victory.
We are saying: Gauff to accumulate in three sets
These ladies absorb conducted one but another extra special, but we mediate those early exits in contemporary tournaments will motivate Gauff, who, when her support is on, is without doubt some of the many valid in the arena.
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