Coco Gauff’s Impressive Comeback Secures Australian Open Quarterfinal Spot
In a thrilling match that showcased her resilience and determination, Coco Gauff overcame a slow start to defeat Belinda Bencic 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 and advance to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open on Sunday.
A Stellar Start to the Year
This victory extends Gauff’s unbeaten run in 2025, marking her ninth consecutive win to start the year. This impressive feat has only been achieved three times in her career, putting her in the league of legendary players like Margaret Court, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, and Serena Williams.
“It’s pretty crazy to be amongst the same stat line as legends, and I’m very grateful,” said Gauff in her on-court interview.
A Hard-Fought First Set
Despite her impressive form, Gauff faced a stern challenge from Bencic, the 2020 Olympic champion. The first set was a battle of attrition, with both players matching each other stride for stride in long, intense rallies.
Bencic ultimately broke Gauff’s serve at 4-4 after two marathon rallies at deuce. However, Gauff showed her fighting spirit, breaking back immediately with an athletic scamper and a backhand winner down the line.
Dominance in the Second and Third Sets
Gauff emerged from the first-set loss with renewed determination. She won three consecutive games to start the second set, showcasing a more aggressive approach that included an overhead smash.
The 2023 US Open champion continued her dominance in the third set, dropping just three games. “It’s funny because I felt like a couple of years ago I had a really bad flat line, where if I lost the first set I’d lose the match,” Gauff reflected.
Next Opponent and Quarterfinal Hopes
Gauff will now face No. 11 seed Paula Badosa on Tuesday for a place in the semifinals. Meanwhile, two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka also secured her spot in the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva.