China Open: Coco Gauff Overcomes Bencic in Three-Set Battle

Gauff survives Bencic test, advances to Beijing Quarterfinals

Coco Gauff, the defending champion, outlasted Belinda Bencic in a thrilling match, winning 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 to advance to the China Open quarterfinals.

“You're the one playing the mind games..” 

Coco Gauff proved her resilience once again, fighting back from a set down to defeat Belinda Bencic 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 in the China Open fourth round. This win not only showcases Gauff's determination but also improves her head-to-head record against Bencic to 4-2, with three of those matches happening this year, including her Australian Open win in January.

 

Gauff's victory means she advances to the China Open quarterfinals, where she'll face the winner of the match between Eva Lys of Germany and fellow American McCartney Kessler. With this win, Gauff has qualified for the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia in November, joining an elite group of young players with 20 WTA 1000 quarterfinals, alongside Martina Hingis and Maria Sharapova.

COCO COMPLETES THE COMEBACK 🙌@CocoGauff is quarterfinal bound after overcoming Bencic in a thrilling three set encounter 🔥#2025ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/KgfynFPLDu

— wta (@WTA) September 30, 2025

Coco Gauff reflected on her tough match against Belinda Bencic, saying, “It was a tough match. I had chances in the first to close it out but overall I'm happy with how I fought. She was being really aggressive.” Despite struggling to capitalize on her opportunities, Gauff was pleased with her resilience and determination on the court.

The match was played in challenging conditions, with the stadium being largely empty and the players having to adapt to varying lighting conditions. During a changeover in the second set, tensions flared between the two players. Bencic expressed her frustration, telling Gauff's team, “Your team is chatting. I'm too old for these mind games, okay?” This flashpoint highlighted the intensity and competitiveness of the match between the two players.

“You're the one playing the mind games,” Gauff, the second seed, shot back.

The 21-year-old Gauff kept it together to win the tiebreak when Tokyo Olympic champion Bencic double-faulted on set point and threw her racquet in anger.

 

GAUFF GETS IT DONE 💪@CocoGauff completes the comeback against Bencic over three sets, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 👏#2025ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/4wVgVFSXb0

— wta (@WTA) September 30, 2025

The world number three Gauff broke early in the third set and carried that momentum through to win when a flagging Bencic returned into the net.

With her last-16 victory, Gauff qualified for the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia in November.

Gauff reflected on the match, saying it was tough but she was happy with how she fought. She also mentioned that she plays better when she's annoyed, stating, “I think I can play sometimes a little bit better when I'm annoyed, more so not with myself but with something else.”