Coco Gauff advanced to the Australian Open quarterfinals after a hard-fought victory over Belinda Bencic, overcoming a tough start to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-1. The world No. 3 faced significant resistance in the first set but capitalized on Bencic’s growing inconsistency and unforced errors as the match progressed.
The opening set was tightly contested, with both players exchanging intense rallies. Bencic earned her first break point in the sixth game but failed to convert, keeping the match level. She finally broke Gauff’s serve and held at 5-4 but couldn’t maintain the lead, as Gauff immediately broke back to level the score at 5-5. Despite Gauff’s efforts, Bencic claimed the set 7-5, with the American struggling with unforced errors, tallying 20 to Bencic’s 10.
In the second set, Gauff shifted gears, coming out stronger and more composed. She quickly secured an early break to go up 3-0 and maintained consistent serving throughout, giving Bencic no opportunities to break back. With Bencic faltering under pressure, Gauff comfortably took the set 6-2 to force a decider.
Gauff’s serve proved crucial, with a 67% first serve percentage and an impressive 81% of points won on those first serves. In contrast, Bencic struggled with her first serve, managing a 63% percentage but only winning 47% of those points.
The third set initially looked even, with both players holding their opening service games. However, Bencic began to fade physically, and Gauff seized control from the baseline, dictating play and making Bencic chase down balls all over the court. Gauff won five consecutive games, wrapping up the match with a dominant 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 victory.
With this win, Gauff moves on to the Australian Open quarterfinals, showcasing her resilience and ability to turn matches around under pressure.
