Coco Gauff, the world number three and two-time grand slam singles champion, showcased her resilience by defeating Belinda Bencic in a gripping fourth-round match at the China Open in Beijing. Gauff prevailed in the tense showdown 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2. Her victory shot her into the quarterfinals. It guaranteed her place in the first-ever WTA Finals, which will be held in Saudi Arabia this November.
The quarterfinal clash with the 15th seed, Tokyo Olympic champion Bencic, was a physical and mental battle. It was a real slug-fest on the court! Gauff came into the final tournament of the season as the second seed. She was down and out in the opening set, despite having opportunities to close out the match. Yet she showed incredible grit to completely counter that blow and storm back to take the second set in a tiebreaker.
Riding the wave of her momentum, Gauff broke early in the final frame and never looked back, cruising to victory. The match was marked by a tense exchange between both players, with Bencic expressing frustration, stating, “Your team is chatting. I’m too old for these mind games, okay?” Gauff was quick to respond, saying, “You are the one doing the mind games.”
After her Hong Kong victory, Gauff said she looked forward to playing in the WTA Finals. In addition, she expressed her enthusiasm about the upcoming return of Riyadh. She remarked, “Happy to qualify once again. Happy to be back in Riyadh and I’m glad I was able to do it here,” reflecting on her journey and accomplishments.
In the quarterfinals, Gauff will face either Eva Lys of Germany or McCartney Kessler. Both opponents will bring different challenges as she hopes to continue her dazzling momentum in the tourney.
And as Gauff continues to make her way through the tournament, she’s proving to all the doubters that she’s the real deal on the court. Her incredible showing solidifies her ascending star status in women’s tennis. When she falters, as she frequently does, her recovery is spectacularly resilient. Her calm under extreme adversity is an example of her incredible development as a competitor.
