Elise Mertens finally cracked the Coco Gauff code on Wednesday, 7 October, dismantling the American third seed 6-3, 6-3 in the China Open fourth round in Beijing to book her place in the quarterfinals. The victory ended a five-match losing streak against Gauff and stands as one of the most complete performances of Mertens' season.

The History Behind the Breakthrough

The win carried particular weight given the near-misses that had haunted Mertens in this rivalry. In their first meeting at Eastbourne in 2021, she led 6-0, 3-1 before losing a deciding-set thriller. Earlier this year in Dubai, she held three match points against Gauff before the American fought back to win in three sets. There were no such escapes in Beijing.

This time, the Belgian 13th seed established early control and never relinquished it, winning in straight sets without needing a deciding set for the first time against Gauff. She closed out the match with her second ace after winning 10 of her final 11 service points — a sharp contrast to the clutch failures that had defined their previous encounters.

Gauff's Difficult Day

For the reigning 2024 Beijing champion, the afternoon unravelled rapidly. Gauff committed 34 unforced errors and served eight double faults at key moments, robbing her of the consistency that typically defines her game. The frustration boiled over in the second set: trailing 1-4, she told her courtside team she had 'no energy' and feared she might pass out. It was a rare public admission of distress from a player known for composure under pressure.

A Remarkable Run Through the Draw

The quarterfinal berth was hard-earned across the tournament. Mertens had already survived a nearly three-hour second-round contest against Katie Volynets after surrendering a set, and then recovered from a slow start in the deciding set against Jelena Ostapenko in the third round. Against Gauff, she avoided a third consecutive extended battle and instead benefited from the American's uncharacteristic errors.

The result is Mertens' 10th career victory over a Top 5 opponent and her second of the current season, following her defeat of Elena Rybakina at Wimbledon. It is also only the third season in her career in which she has collected multiple Top 5 wins — a marker of her growing ability to rise for the big occasions.

Swiatek Awaits in the Quarterfinals

Mertens' reward for ending the Gauff hoodoo is a meeting with eighth seed Iga Swiatek, herself a former China Open champion. Swiatek has won both of her previous matches against Mertens, and the quarterfinal represents another stern test. However, Mertens arrives with momentum and renewed belief, targeting her first WTA 1000-level or higher semifinal since Dubai in 2021. The occasion also held personal significance: her coach and boyfriend Christopher Heyman celebrates his birthday on Thursday, giving her extra reason to savour the landmark result.

Gauff's title defence in Beijing ends in the fourth round, while Mertens presses on — having finally turned one of the most stubborn rivalries of her career decisively in her favour.