“I don’t even like it”: Coco Gauff explains hat superstition behind Miami Open final run

Coco Gauff advanced to the Miami Open final with a commanding 6-1, 6-1 victory over Karolina Muchova, capping a week that began with uncertainty and evolved into one of the most consistent runs of her season. The American, currently ranked World No. 4, produced her most complete performance of the tournament at a crucial stage.

The result secured Gauff’s place in her sixth WTA 1000 final and marked her first appearance in a Miami final, a tournament she has long identified as one of personal significance. At 22, she also became the youngest American to reach the final in Miami since Serena Williams in 2003.

Her progression through the draw has been defined by contrast. While earlier rounds required extended three-set battles, the semi-final against Muchova was decided in just over an hour, with Gauff winning 12 of the final 13 games after conceding an early break.

That late-stage dominance reflects a broader shift in approach following Indian Wells, where injury concerns had left her uncertain about competing in Miami. Two weeks later, she finds herself one win away from the title, with Aryna Sabalenka or Elena Rybakina awaiting in the final.

Beyond the results, an unexpected detail has come to define Gauff’s run in Miami: her decision to wear a hat throughout the tournament, a departure from her usual on-court look. What began as a practical choice quickly became a constant as victories accumulated.

Gauff admitted the decision had little strategic basis, instead emerging from routine and circumstance. After using the hat in practice, she continued with it into competition and chose not to change after securing her opening win. “I don’t even know, because I actually don’t like it at all," the world No. 3 said to Tennis Channel. "I started wearing it because I didn’t feel like doing my hair that day. Then I kept it, and I won my first round, so I felt like I had to stick with it.”

The detail has taken on added relevance given the consistency of her performances since. Despite reservations about its appearance and practicality, Gauff maintained the routine throughout the tournament, even noting the limitations of having only one available. “The crazy thing is I literally have one hat, so I’ve been washing it every day because New Balance never thought to send me hats. I told them to stop sending me hats. But I think this is one and done.”

Gauff’s presence in the final follows a period of uncertainty after Indian Wells, where physical discomfort and early elimination prompted consideration of skipping Miami altogether. Her decision to compete was influenced by both fitness and the opportunity to play in familiar surroundings.

She described entering the tournament with adjusted expectations, focusing initially on regaining enjoyment rather than results. That shift in perspective proved significant as she navigated a series of demanding matches early in the week. “I thought I wasn’t going to play this tournament. Then I woke up one day and felt like I needed to try if I was healthy. If there was going to be a tournament to help me find my joy and my groove again, I felt like it would be this one.”

By the semi-final stage, that approach translated into clarity on court. Against Muchova, Gauff executed a more aggressive and controlled game plan, avoiding the lapses that had extended previous matches and limiting her opponent’s ability to dictate rallies. “In Australia, after I won the first set, I felt like I played well, but she wasn’t playing great. Today I had to stay aggressive, not making silly decisions, but not letting her get a chance to play her rhythm.”

Gauff’s route to the final was defined by early three-set matches that forced her to adjust under pressure. Those contests, rather than disrupting her momentum, provided a framework for managing key moments more effectively as the tournament progressed.

By the semi-finals, she translated those lessons into a more controlled and decisive performance, particularly when playing from ahead. “I think those three-set matches gave me a lot of confidence this week. I learned from each match. I was in a similar position earlier and handled it better today.”