Competing at her hometown tournament, held at the Hard Rock Stadium, Gauff described the experience as one of the most fulfilling stretches of her season—despite falling just short of the title she had openly targeted.
Speaking during her runner-up remarks, Gauff admitted the loss was difficult but emphasized the joy she felt throughout the tournament.
“Although it hurts not to leave with the bigger trophy, I had a lot of joy this week,” she said. “I got a bit emotional, but they weren’t sad tears—just gratitude for the past two weeks.”
Mindset Shift Drives Breakthrough Performance
In her post-match press conference, Gauff revealed that a significant shift in mentality played a key role in her performance. The 20-year-old entered the tournament under a cloud of uncertainty after retiring from the BNP Paribas Open due to an arm injury—prompting some within her team to suggest skipping Miami altogether.
Instead, Gauff leaned into a more positive and process-driven approach, drawing inspiration from Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu. She explained that she focused on gratitude and perspective, even in the face of defeat.
“I was looking at my box, seeing my family and friends, hearing their support,” she said. “That reminded me there’s no real loss in this situation.”
The American acknowledged that earlier in her career she could be overly self-critical, but she is now actively working to change that narrative.
Small Goals, Bigger Impact
Central to Gauff’s improved outlook was a shift away from obsessing over results toward setting smaller, achievable goals. She cited her opening match against Elisabetta Cocciaretto, where her immediate focus was simply to secure the second set—rather than thinking ahead to the final.
“I think I can be very results-based at times,” Gauff admitted. “But that’s not healthy, because tennis has highs and lows. This week, I focused on small steps, and it made everything feel more manageable.”
She added that in past tournaments, especially those where she had expectations to defend results, she often found herself looking too far ahead. The more grounded approach in Miami, she believes, can serve as a blueprint for future events.
Confidence for the Road Ahead
Despite the loss, Gauff leaves Miami with renewed confidence and belief in her ability to contend for major titles. She stressed that reaching the final—particularly under less-than-ideal circumstances—reinforces her potential to go one step further next time.
“I didn’t even expect to be here, and I made it,” she said. “Now I know I can do it again—and next time, hopefully, win the bigger trophy.”
For Gauff, the Miami Open may not have delivered the title she dreamed of, but it marked a meaningful evolution in mindset—one that could shape the next phase of her career.