Is Coco Gauff the Third Best Player on the WTA Tour?

The American tennis player, who has faced criticism in the last year, performed admirably in the tournament. Despite losing to Aryna Sabalenka in the final, Gauff can be proud of her resilience, winning four three-set matches during the tournament.

Gauff, following her performance in Miami, has returned to world number three, surpassing Iga Swiatek, winner of six Grand Slam titles. This raises the question: is Gauff the third-best player in the world?

Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina are currently the most dominant players on the WTA Tour. Rybakina won her second Grand Slam title in Melbourne, and Sabalenka recently became only the fifth woman to complete the 'Sunshine Double'.

On the 'Nothing Major Show', former world number 21 Steve Johnson debated whether Coco Gauff is the third-best player on the tour, behind Sabalenka and Rybakina.

Johnson commented that there are two players who are more dominant than the rest, but that in women's tennis there is a lot of variability. Johnson believes Gauff is the third-best player if her serve is adequate, but if it is not, she has problems.

Gauff managed to take a set from Sabalenka this year, something only Rybakina had achieved. Johnson highlights Gauff's ability to connect with the audience and generate energy.

Johnson states that Gauff is probably the best competitor on the women's circuit, which is very important. At the 2026 Miami Open, Gauff had the following results: in the round of 64, she defeated Elisabetta Cocciaretto; in the round of 32, Alycia Parks; in the round of 16, Sorana Cirstea; in the quarterfinals, Belinda Bencic; and in the semifinals, Karolína Muchová. In the final, she lost against Aryna Sabalenka.

Johnson believes that Gauff did not need a big result in Miami, since the clay season is coming up, and she has had a lot of success on that surface.

Steve Johnson's assessment of Coco Gauff's current position in women's tennis is entirely accurate. If Gauff controls her serving problems, she is undoubtedly one of the top three players on the WTA Tour. Despite her youth, Gauff has achieved great things, including two Grand Slam titles and multiple WTA 1000 titles.

Despite the difficult moments in her career, Gauff always finds a way to fight. This resilience is her best quality, and it will undoubtedly continue to serve her well in the future.