Aryna Sabalenka has revealed that she avoids looking at content about herself on social media because she’s used to receiving “rude and mean” comments. The world No. 1 is attempting to defend the Miami Open title this week, and should she lift the trophy, she would complete the Sunshine Double – winning Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back.

Coco Gauff is also in action at the Hard Rock Stadium, where she is through to the semi-finals for the very first time. And the No. 4 seed has looked to an unusual source for some coaching advice this fortnight, revealing that she was inspired by a tweet telling her to come to the net more often.

“So I honestly was thinking about that on match point, and I was just hoping I didn’t miss the volley in the net, because I’ve done that a couple times! But I was just focused on just hitting it over the net.”

Sabalenka has now been asked whether she ever saw similar feedback online, but the four-time Major winner explained that she tried to scroll past any posts about herself. “Of course, I see some of the things,” she replied.

“For some reason, I see more negative than positive about myself. So I try not to really look deep. Whenever I see my picture or something about myself, I go to the next one because I don’t know, like, sometimes people just being rude and mean to all of us. I feel like it just [isn’t] really worth reading and going through.”

Sabalenka was still amused to hear that the online advice helped Gauff – and she was happy to get a heads-up on the American’s tactics in case they met in the final. “Well, it helped, it helped. I mean, we’re all different, right? If it helped… Thanks for telling me. Now I’m going to be ready that she’s coming to the net,” she laughed.

Sabalenka is in the top half of the draw and can only meet Gauff in the final here. The Belarusian is on a nine-match winning streak after being crowned the Indian Wells champion earlier this month and then reaching the last eight here.