Coco Gauff once again cemented her status as one of the best players on the WTA Tour after her run to the Miami Open final.
The American, who has endured periods of intense criticism over the last year, performed admirably to reach the final in Florida.
Despite losing to Aryna Sabalenka in the championship showpiece, the 21-year-old can be proud of her resilience after winning four three-set matches during the tournament.
Where will Coco Gauff be ranked at the end of 2026?
Gauff has now returned to world number three following her performance in Miami, overtaking six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.
Gauff’s rankings rise raises a pertinent question: is Gauff now the third-best player in the world?
Steve Johnson discusses whether Coco Gauff is now the third-best player in the world
Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina are undoubtedly the two best players on the WTA Tour at the moment.
The pair, ranked first and second on the WTA Tour, have been dominant forces on the WTA Tour this year.
Rybakina won her second Grand Slam title in Melbourne, and Sabalenka recently became only the fifth woman to complete the ‘Sunshine Double.’
Speaking on the Nothing Major Show, former world number 21 Steve Johnson has debated whether Coco Gauff is the third best player on the Tour behind Sabalenka and Rybakina.
“I would say it’s similar to the men’s side,” Johnson said. “There are two players who are more dominant than everyone else. I feel like on the women’s though, they have so much variability.
“I feel like Coco is the third best player if the serve is adequate, if the serve is not there then she does have some trouble.
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| Round of 128 | BYE | – |
| Round of 64 | Elisabetta Cocciaretto | 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| Round of 32 | Alycia Parks | 3–6, 6–0, 6–1 |
| Round of 16 | Sorana Cirstea | 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 |
| Quarterfinal | Belinda Bencic | 6–3, 1–6, 6–3 |
| Semifinal | Karolína Muchová | 6–1, 6–1 |
| Final | Aryna Sabalenka | 2–6, 6–4, 3–6 |
“The way she was able to play in that final, she is the first person to take a set off Sabalenka other than Rybakina this year, which is a joke.
“And watching the crowd get into it for Coco, obviously we are in the States and it’s kind of a home event for her, but she has the ability to draw on the crowd and get it going and get the energy there.
“I think she probably is the best competitor on the women’s side and that goes a long way.
Do you think Coco Gauff will win a Grand Slam title this year?
“If she puts her best foot forward, regardless of her tennis skill that day, so I think she is the third best player in the world.
“I don’t think she needed a big result here in Miami because the clay swing is coming up and she has been incredibly successful on the clay.”
Steve Johnson is correct
Steve Johnson’s assessment of Coco Gauff’s current standing in the women’s game is wholly accurate.
While Gauff still has serving struggles, when these are under control, she is most certainly a top-three player on the WTA Tour.
It seems we, as tennis fans, often forget what Gauff has achieved at such a young age: the American has won two Grand Slams and multiple WTA 1000 titles by the age of 21.
Yes, Gauff has endured a difficult period in her career – one that has included multiple crushing losses to lower-ranked players.
However, even when not playing her best, Gauff always finds a way to dig in.
This is undoubtedly her best quality: there can be no doubt that Gauff is the most resilient player on the WTA Tour, and this trait will continue to serve her well moving forward.