Miami Open local Coco Gauff, black-clad Sabalenka (and others) finally begin play

Reigning U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff can roll out of her comfy bed in Delray Beach and arrive at Hard Rock Stadium for the Miami Open in an hour — sometimes less.

That is, if steady rain doesn’t make her trip a bit longer, as it likely did Friday, when tournament officials delayed the day’s matches until just after 5 p.m. Gauff’s opening match on Stadium Court against Argentine qualifier Nadia Podoroska was scheduled for noon, but began at about 5:15. Rain was forecast to return at night, but not before Gauff dominated Podoroska 6-1, 6-2.

A good night’s sleep never hurts when you’re the World No. 3 women’s tennis player chasing the ultimate ranking and going for that $1.1 million Miami Open singles championship money — even if your beloved 10-year-old brother Cameron can be annoying at times.

“I had to text him this morning to, like, ‘Stop screaming,’“ Gauff, 20, said earlier this week. “He was playing a game and he said he was sorry. Other than that, it’s really nice and refreshing.’’

Other headliners who were scheduled to play Friday included defending men’s champion and No. 3 seed Daniil Medvedev; Australian Open champion and No. 2 seed Jannik Sinner; former No. 1 Andy Murray; and American Taylor Fritz, the No. 12 seed.

Among the top women scheduled for Friday were world No. 1 Iga Swiatek; No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka; No. 5 seed Jessica Pegula; and Naomi Osaka.

Sabalenka also began playing just after 5 p.m. against No. 80 Paula Badosa of Spain on the grandstand. She competed for the first time since the death of her ex-boyfriend, who jumped from the balcony of a Bal Harbour hotel on Sunday night. She wore an all-black outfit, and was not expected to be available for interviews. She also won in straight sets, 6-4 and 6-3.

Sabalenka previously released a statement that said her “heart is broken’’ and asked the public to respect her privacy “during this difficult time.’’

Gauff addressed the Miami Open media on Wednesday, discussing her family and birthday celebration and “expectations’’ — or lack thereof — for the 2024 Olympics. She missed the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for COVID-19 at age 17. At that point she was ranked No. 25.

“Expectations, I don’t have any because I don’t know what to expect,’’ Gauff said. “The 2020 Olympics, it was COVID, so I really don’t know what the full experience is like. The goal is obviously to medal and hopefully come home with gold. I really want to enjoy the experience and not make it so much pressure as maybe other tournaments — especially the first time around.”

Gauff, the youngest player from the United States to hold a top-3 seed at Miami, has $13,355,902 in career prize money and a round-of-16 Miami Open best in 2022. Her best finish in 2024: Auckland after mounting a 10-match winning streak. Gauff also reached her third semifinal of the 2024 season at Indian Wells and her third Grand Slam semifinal at the Australian Open.

Gauff defeated Sabalenka in September to become the youngest American to win the U.S. Open since Serena Williams in 1999.

Gauff gained worldwide recognition in 2019 when she got a wildcard entry to Wimbledon, then, at 15, defeated her childhood idol Venus Williams in the opening round. She went on to become the youngest player to reach Wimbledon’s fourth round since Jennifer Capriati in 1991.

Besides little brother Cameron, Gauff has a 16-year-old brother named Cody. Her father Corey played basketball at Georgia State. Her mother Candi had a track and field scholarship at Florida State.

She said her family celebrated her birthday last week with a seafood boil, and acknowledged she appreciates being close to home for the Miami Open.

“Why do you choose to stay at home and not at the local hotel,’’ she was asked Wednesday. “You wouldn’t have that annoying little brother bothering you.’’

Said Gauff: “From the hotel it’s 30 minutes with no traffic, 45 with traffic. From home, it’s 45 with no traffic and an hour with traffic. I live right next to the turnpike. So it didn’t make sense to stay in a hotel when it’s almost the same distance.”

Being home, she explained, makes the experience “feel more like practice.’’

This week, she attended a ceremony at her childhood public tennis courts at Pompey Park in Delray Beach, where the USTA donated the funds to resurface the venue.

Right after she turned 20 at Indian Wells, Gauff said the most fun part of being a teenager was “the friends I’ve made along the way.”

“Yeah, I met a lot of cool people. The support system I have is great.’’

She said the “coolest’’ person she’s ever met was Michelle Obama — “at the top of the list.’’

If she could change one thing about her teenage years, what would it be?

“I guess I would just tell myself to relax a little bit more,’’ she said. “You know, that’s probably going to be the thing I need to tell myself my whole life. Just relax and enjoy the ride.’’

Winning Miami might not be relaxing, but it would certainly be gratifying.

“Obviously, Miami being a home tournament, that would be a dream to win.’’