**Coco Gauff Embraces Unlikely Superstition as She Prepares for Miami Open Finals**
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Coco Gauff is preparing herself for a pivotal showdown at the Miami Open as she gears up to face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the finals on Saturday, 28 March 2026. The two-time Grand Slam champion made headlines after her recent victory over Karolína Muchová in the semi-finals, not only for her performance on the court but also for her unexpected fashion choice.
During a post-match interview, Gauff, 22, disclosed that she has taken to wearing a baseball cap throughout the tournament—a decision influenced by a mix of practicality and superstition. Despite her initial reluctance to don the accessory, she has maintained a consistent look throughout her matches, believing it may have contributed to her success in the competition.
“I actually don’t like it at all,” Gauff admitted when discussing her new “hat era.” She explained that her choice to wear the cap stemmed from a day when she didn’t want to do her hair for practice. “I just kept with it, and then I won my first round and thought, well, I have to keep this… keep the same look the whole tournament,” she said.
Interestingly, Gauff has been very clear that this choice may only be temporary. After joking about washing the same hat daily, she expressed her reluctance to revive the trend in future events. “New Balance never thought to send me hats because I don’t wear hats,” she laughed. “But this is one and done.” The cap, although becoming a part of her tennis kit, is set to be “retired” once the tournament concludes.
As Gauff prepares for the finals, she drew parallels to the basketball world, mentioning NBA star LeBron James and his iconic protective mask following a broken nose injury in 2014. “If I win this tournament… you know how they have LeBron with the mask? It can be Coco with the hat, just be retired and left like that,” she remarked with a chuckle.
Her upcoming match against Sabalenka, the defending champion, promises to be a formidable challenge. Sabalenka secured her place in the finals after triumphing over Elena Rybakina with a score of 6-4, 6-3 in the semi-finals. Gauff’s determination and newfound luck with her hat will certainly add an extra layer of intrigue to the final match.
Though Gauff doesn’t usually consider herself superstitious, her father’s habitual presence—albeit sometimes absent from the player box—adds another dimension to her competitive spirit. Corey Gauff has admitted to finding his own ways of coping with the nerves that come with watching his daughter compete. In fact, during the French Open last year, he opted to remove himself from the immediate excitement of the match, wandering the hallways with music to ease his anxiety.
“He’s a kind of superstitious guy, and he was like, ‘Okay, whatever!’” Coco noted, reflecting on their mutual agreement for her dad to stay away from the box during pivotal matches after a disappointing first-round exit at Wimbledon in 2023.
As Gauff prepares to face her toughest opponent yet in the finals, the atmosphere around her is electrifying. Fans and commentators alike will be keeping a close eye on how her hat trend plays out during such an important match. Will it become a lucky charm for Gauff, or will she happily retire it along with her superstitious habit?
Whether or not the black cap becomes a symbol of victory or is put to rest after this tournament, one thing is certain: Coco Gauff is determined to bring her best game to the court. With her blend of talent, strategic thinking, and newfound quirks, Gauff continues to prove that she is not just a rising star in tennis but a dynamic personality in the sporting world. As she walks onto the Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, the anticipation for this final will only continue to build.