Coco Gauff Cleared for Miami Open After Arm Injury

Coco Gauff, the world No. 4 American tennis star, has received medical clearance to compete at the Miami Open after retiring from her third-round match at Indian Wells earlier this month due to a left arm injury. The 22-year-old, who resides in nearby Delray Beach, Florida, described the pain as feeling like a firework exploding inside her arm and confirmed it stems from a nerve issue, but she expressed optimism about her recovery ahead of the WTA 1000 event starting this week at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Gauff withdrew while trailing Alexandra Eala in the second set at the BNP Paribas Open on March 8, marking only her second career retirement. She later explained that the discomfort began after a forehand shot and intensified progressively, even affecting shots not requiring her left arm. To assess the severity, Gauff underwent her first MRI scan, which ruled out anything more serious. "That was the first time I took an MRI; they're expensive, and I felt like that's what a coffin would feel like," she told reporters on Tuesday. "It was very weird. I felt claustrophobic, so I definitely don't want to go into one of those again."

Following a few days of rest, Gauff...