Coco Gauff Battles Back to Reach Australian Open Quarterfinals
American tennis sensation Coco Gauff showcased her resilience on Sunday, mounting a remarkable comeback to defeat Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 at the Australian Open. The victory propels the 19-year-old into the quarterfinals and extends her unbeaten streak to nine matches this season.
Bencic, 27, who returned to the tour after the birth of her daughter and is currently ranked 294th, demonstrated her experience by seizing the first set under the bright sunshine at Rod Laver Arena. Known for her strong record against major champions, Bencic initially put Gauff on the defensive with precise shot-making.
However, the World No. 3 Gauff adjusted her strategy in the second set, adopting a more aggressive approach. Her powerful groundstrokes and increased intensity allowed her to level the match at one set apiece. “I thought in the first set she played great tennis; it was tough for me to be more on offense,” Gauff reflected after the match. “I played more aggressively in the second set, then reset to play my best in the third.”
In the deciding set, Gauff staved off a break point in the opening game and capitalized on a break to lead 3-1, aided by a couple of unlucky net cords that went against Bencic. The momentum firmly on her side, Gauff dominated the remainder of the set, sealing the win and setting up a quarterfinal clash with Spain’s Paula Badosa.
Despite the victory, Gauff acknowledged areas for improvement, particularly her nine double faults and a 40 percent success rate on her second serve. As she aims to surpass her semifinal run in Melbourne last year, Gauff remains focused on her growth. “We worked very hard in the offseason; obviously there’s still a lot for me to accomplish my goal,” she said. “Maybe a couple of years ago, if I lost the first set, I might lose the match. 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.”
In other matches, top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus cruised past Russia’s Mirra Andreeva with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory. Sabalenka will next face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, also from Russia, who overcame Croatia’s Donna Vekic 7-6(0), 6-0.
Reference(s):
Gauff passes Bencic test to advance to last eight at Australian Open
cgtn.com
