Gauff Battles Past Bencic in Three Sets to Reach Maiden Wimbledon Last Eight
Gauff came from a set down to defeat Olympic champion Bencic and book an all-American Wimbledon quarter-final against Jessica Pegula.
Coco Gauff overcomes slow start to defeat Bencic 4-6 6-3 6-4 at Wimbledon...
Coco Gauff battled into her first Wimbledon quarter-final late on Sunday, coming from a set down to beat Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a rollercoaster match on Court One under the roof.
Both players struggled for rhythm after a lengthy delay to get on court. Bencic, the 11th seed, looked steadier early on, but 7th seed Gauff took more risks. The 22-year-old American finished with 35 winners to Bencic’s 19, offset by 46 unforced errors and nine double faults.
Bencic, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals last year and won Olympic gold in 2021, claimed the opening set on her third set point after an erratic Gauff return found the net.
Gauff has been a Centre Court favourite since making the last 16 as a 15-year-old in 2019, and she rediscovered her form in the second. The American broke Bencic twice and was broken once, sealing the set with a deft drop shot and a beautiful lob to force a decider.
Playing inspired tennis and painting the lines, Gauff pushed Bencic onto the defensive in the decider.
With Wimbledon’s 11pm curfew approaching, Gauff earned match point with a smash and closed it out with a powerful serve Bencic couldn’t get back.
“I'm super happy to be in the quarters finally - I don't know how many tries it's been,” said Gauff in a quick on-court interview. The American will next face compatriot Jessica Pegula.
Bencic, a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2025 and Olympic gold medallist in 2021, grabbed the first set on her third set point after Gauff’s return found the net.
Gauff has been a crowd favourite at Wimbledon since reaching the last 16 as a 15-year-old in 2019, and she hit top gear in the second. The 7th seed broke Bencic twice and was broken once, finishing the set with a crafty drop shot and a perfectly placed lob to force a third.
“I was looking at the clock in the last service game and on that match point I was going for serve and volley as I was wanting to end the point.
“I'm not used to racing for time as we're not used to having to finish by a certain time.”
The All England club is in a residential district of southwest London and has a strict curfew.
Gauff said she was hungry for more after finally reaching the quarter-finals.
Coco comes back in style 💪 pic.twitter.com/xSZVgQsYty
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 5, 2026
“Even though it was a tough match I feel this was my best match of the tournament,” she said.
Wimbledon’s All England Club sits in a southwest London residential area and enforces a strict 11pm curfew.
Gauff said she’s eager for more now that she’s finally made the last eight.
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