It was the third -seeded Gauffs second “double bail” after defeating Arantxa Rus with the same figures in Madrid last year.
There was not much that indicated the closing. Before the meeting, it stood 2-2 in mutual meetings. Among other things, Kenin, who took home the Australian Open in 2020, won the Wimbledon meeting less than two years ago. Later that fall, Gauff took his first Grand Slam title with winning the US Open.
– I think it was a combination of playing really well, it was really good tennis from me and that she might not play as well. I will not sit here and say that she played her best tennis, says Gauff according to the WTA tour.
21-year-old Gauff got rest in the first round (a so-called Bye) where Kenin, who is ranked 56th, knocked out the former Grand Slam winner Petra Kvitova in straight sets. In the third round, Greek Mary Sakkari awaits Gauff.
It is Gauff’s home tournament when she lives in Delray Beach an hour drive from Miami.