MIAMI — The Miami Open witnessed the exit of two former Grand Slam champions, Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka, in the Round of 16.

Consequently, No. 6 seed Jasmine Paolini and Magda Linette, who is unseeded, are set to compete in a quarterfinal match on Tuesday.

Linette triumphed over No. 3 seed Gauff with a score of 6-4, 6-4. This victory marks Linette`s most significant win against a higher-ranked opponent (World No. 3 Gauff) at a Hologic WTA Tour event.

Gauff commented post-match, “Today was not my best performance, and neither have been the recent weeks. I`m working to understand the reasons. I`m definitely not pleased with my game today. It was simply one of those days where I felt off in every aspect on the court.”

Earlier, Paolini demonstrated resilience, securing a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Osaka. This win broke Paolini`s streak of three losses in WTA Tour Round-of-16 matches this year.

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    Paolini overcomes Osaka in Miami, makes first quarterfinal of 2025

    Key Points to Note:

    Paolini`s Consistency Returns: Jasmine Paolini`s hallmark in her successful 2024 season was her remarkable consistency. Her ability to string together wins on both clay and grass surfaces propelled her into the Top 10 at 28. While the current season presents new challenges and expectations, this Miami performance signals a return to her consistent form.

    This marks Paolini`s first instance of securing three consecutive wins this year. She has improved her record against former WTA No. 1 ranked players to 3-8, with previous wins against Angelique Kerber and Karolina Pliskova in 2024. This victory is also her first against a former Grand Slam champion in her last five attempts.

    Paolini expressed her relief and happiness at reaching her first quarterfinal of 2025, stating, “Finally! I’m really happy, and it boosts my confidence. The match was of high quality, and I felt her level was exceptionally high today.”

    Paolini impressively saved 12 out of 15 break points and converted three out of five on her own serve.

    Linette`s Ascent: Magda Linette, at 33, achieved a significant victory, marking her best win on Monday. This is her first Top 10 win since defeating Paolini last year in Beijing, improving her record in such matches to 6-28.

    Linette capitalized on Gauff`s 12 double faults, breaking her serve four times while managing her own serve effectively, getting broken only twice.

    Linette mentioned that watching Gauff`s matches frequently, due to her prominence on major courts, provided her with insights into Gauff`s less dominant days. She strategically applied pressure on Gauff`s serve, returned effectively, and maintained solid service games.

    Linette`s achievement places her as the second-oldest player since 2009 to secure a first WTA 1000 win over a Top 5 opponent, following Hsieh Su-wei. She is also the third-oldest woman this century to reach the Miami Open quarterfinals for the first time.

    This Miami quarterfinal is Linette`s second at the WTA 1000 level, with her first being at Wuhan last year, where she lost to Gauff.

    Upcoming Match: Paolini vs. Linette: Their head-to-head record stands at 2-1 in favor of Linette. Paolini won their Olympic match in Paris, while Linette won their Beijing encounter.

    Paolini reflected on her previous match with Linette in Beijing, noting she wasn`t at her best. She acknowledges Linette`s consistency and completeness as a player, emphasizing her need to be aggressive, minimize errors, and maintain agility in their upcoming match.

    Linette also recalled their Beijing match, highlighting both players` strong return games. She aims to pressure Paolini, adapt to the quicker court in Miami, and maintain her level of steadiness, competitiveness, and discipline from her recent performance.