Article by David Istrate – Published Sunday, March 22, 2026, 7:26 p.m. / Updated Sunday, March 22, 2026, 7:29 p.m.
In the round of 16 of the Miami Open, Sorana Cîrstea (35 years old, 35 WTA titles) will meet Coco Gauff (22 years old, 4 WTA titles), the double Grand Slam winner. After making it past the third round, the American said a few words about the player from Romania, stating that she knows she is in the last season of her career.
Sorana Cîrstea feels great in Miami, where she played twice in the round of 16 and reached the semi-finals in 2023. After 3 consecutive victories, the 35-year-old athlete managed to qualify again for the round of 16 of the WTA 1000 tournament and will meet Coco Gauff, the former world number 2.
Saturday, March 21, Cîrstea defeated Elise Mertens (30 years old, 19 WTA) 6-3, 6-2, needing 79 minutes. Later, Gauff took on Alycia Parks (25, 105 WTA) and won against her compatriot 3-6, 6-0, 6-1.
Gauff only met Cîrstea once: “I remember our duel at the Australian Open”
Therefore, Cîrstea and Gauff will duel more than 6 years after the first and only confrontation. In 2020, the two played against each other in the second round of the Australian Open, and the American prevailed 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
At that time, Gauff had yet to break into the top 50, but managed to get past 2019 champion Naomi Osaka in the third round and reach the round of 16 at the Australian Open. After her win with Parks, the 22-year-old tennis player talked about that game.
“I remember our duel at the Australian Open, although it's been a long time since then. It was a long, 3-set match. I think it will be a match similar to that and now, I expect Sorana to play quality tennis,” said Gauff, quoted by eurosport.ro.
“I know she's in her last year on the circuit, so she has nothing to lose. I think he made a semi-final or even a final here in Miami, so he's feeling good in this tournament, he's had a lot of good moments throughout“, added the world number 4.
The winner of the duel between Cîrstea and Gauff will play in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open either with Amanda Anisimova (24 years old, 6 WTA) or with Belinda Bencic (29 years old, 12 WTA).
