MIAMI — The Miami Open will go on without South Florida fan favorite Coco Gauff. The third-ranked American was eliminated 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 by No. 23 Caroline Garcia of France late Monday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium.

Garcia had won their previous two matches in 2022 but had lost seven matches in a row to Top 10 players before Monday.

“It’s been a while, but I tried to stay positive,” Garcia said on center court after the win. “We had some very close games, she started playing stronger and faster, but I just tried to manage the match and I am very happy to be in the quarterfinals.”

Gauff knew going in that she is in for a tough matchup against Garcia.

“With Caroline, she is always a tough player to play, she takes the ball super early, plays very aggressive,” Gauff said Sunday. “I think the most recent time we played with the U.S. Open two years ago, maybe sooner. I think I lost to her the most recent time.”

Garcia beat Gauff twice at the end of the 2022 season, both times in straight sets. She won 6-3, 6-4 at the U.S. Open and 6-4, 6-3 at the WTA Finals. This will be Garcia’s first time in the Miami Open quarterfinals. She defeated Naomi Osaka in the previous round.

The first woman to reach the quarters was No. 9 Maria Sakkari of Greece, who advanced because of a walkover from No. 25 Anna Kalinskaya of Russia, who withdrew with a thigh injury.

In other women’s matches Monday, it was a good day for Kazakhstan as No. 4 Elena Rybakina eliminated American Madison Keys 6-3, 7-5 and Yulia Putintseva beat Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine 6-4, 7-6 (7-5). Also, former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka overpowered Katie Boulter 7-5, 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals.

In some men’s tournament news away from the court, Miami Open tournament director James Blake spoke with No. 7 seed Casper Ruud and his father, Christian, and smoothed things over after the younger Ruud, a former finalist in the event, was caught on camera harshly criticizing the tournament facilities during his second-round win over French teenager Luca van Assche over the weekend.

During one of the changeovers, the Norwegian ranted to the chair umpire, complaining that the “tournament is too cheap” to provide an adequate changing room for the players.

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