Australian Open: Gauff Defeats Bencic to Face Badosa in Quarterfinals
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Synopsis
Coco Gauff staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Belinda Bencic and secure her place in the Australian Open quarterfinals. With a score of 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, Gauff continues her impressive form this season, setting up a quarterfinal clash against Paula Badosa.
Key Takeaways
- Coco Gauff reaches Australian Open quarterfinals.
- Wins against Belinda Bencic with a score of 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.
- Gauff is 9-0 this season, marking back-to-back 9-0 starts for the first time since 2012-2013.
- She is the youngest to achieve this feat since Monica Seles.
- Gauff faces Paula Badosa next in the quarterfinals.
Melbourne, Jan 19 (NationPress) No.3 seed Coco Gauff had to rally from behind to secure her spot in the Australian Open quarterfinals on Sunday, achieving a hard-fought victory of 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 against new mother Belinda Bencic at Rod Laver Arena.
Gauff faced her first set loss of the season in her Round-of-16 match against Switzerland's 2021 Olympic gold medallist Bencic. Nevertheless, the American showcased a remarkable comeback, finishing the match in 2 hours and 26 minutes and improving her 2025 win-loss record to 9-0.
She became the first woman to achieve back-to-back 9-0 starts to a season since Victoria Azarenka in 2012-2013. At just 20 years old, Gauff is also the youngest to achieve this since Monica Seles in 1992-1993, according to WTA.
As the 2023 US Open champion, Gauff continues to build her legacy, advancing to her eighth career Grand Slam quarterfinal. Only Maria Sharapova (12), Serena Williams, and Kim Clijsters (nine each) have reached more women's singles Grand Slam quarterfinals than Gauff before turning 21 this century.
Gauff lost only three points on serve until the score reached 4-3, but Bencic began to play aggressively on second serve returns, breaking the American's serve twice in succession to clinch the first set.
Two consecutive double faults from Gauff handed Bencic a 6-5 lead, and the former World No. 4 took the set after an hour of action.
In the second set, Gauff regained her top form, dominating the match without facing a break point and hitting 17 winners compared to Bencic's two. This strong performance in the second and third sets allowed her to take a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head rivalry.
Gauff is now just one win away from reaching her second consecutive Australian Open semifinal, having previously lost to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka in the final four last year.
The No.11 seed Paula Badosa from Spain will be Gauff's opponent in the quarterfinals. Badosa defeated Olga Danilovic of Serbia with a score of 6-1, 7-6 (2) in her fourth-round match.
Their head-to-head record is tied at three wins each, although Gauff claimed victory in their two encounters last year.
