Coco Gauff showcased her champion spirit on Sunday, rallying from a set down to defeat Switzerland's Belinda Bencic 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 at the Australian Open. 🌟
The 2023 U.S. Open champion extended her unbeaten streak in 2025 to nine matches, proving she's on fire this season! 🔥 Despite dropping the first set under the bright Melbourne sun, Gauff turned the match around with her aggressive play and unstoppable energy. 💪
Bencic, ranked 294th after returning to the tour following the birth of her daughter, had been a tough opponent, winning seven of her eight meetings with major champions. She showed her prowess by taking the first set, but Gauff wasn't letting that stop her! 😎
\"I thought in the first set she played great tennis; it was tough for me to be more on offense,\" Gauff shared after the match. \"Overall, I'm happy with how I played. The first set could have gone my way with a few more points, and I played more aggressively in the second set, then reset to play my best in the third.\" 🎤
In the decisive third set, Gauff's determination shone through. She broke Bencic's serve to lead 3-1, with a bit of luck as the net cord twice favored her side. From there, she didn't look back, sealing the victory and punching her ticket to the quarterfinals, where she'll face Spain's Paula Badosa. 🇪🇸
The 27-year-old Bencic seemed disheartened by her bad luck, but Gauff remained focused. \"Maybe a couple of years ago, if I lost the first set I might lose the match,\" Gauff reflected. \"I remember my dad said, 'We've got to toughen you up.' I was just trying to put myself in the position where I could leave the court and feel proud of myself.\" ❤️
Elsewhere in the tournament, top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus powered past Russia's Mirra Andreeva 6-1, 6-2. She'll next face another Russian player, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who defeated Croatia's Donna Vekic 7-6(0), 6-0. 🌍🎾
With the competition heating up, Gauff is poised to make her mark in Melbourne. Can she continue her winning streak and claim another Grand Slam title? Stay tuned! 🚀✨
Reference(s):
Gauff passes Bencic test to advance to last eight at Australian Open
cgtn.com
