Jan 19 (Reuters) – Coco Gauff rallied from a set down to beat Belinda Bencic 5-7 6-2 6-1 on Sunday to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and extend her winning streak from the start of the season to nine matches.
Swiss Bencic, ranked a lowly 294th on her return to the tour after having a daughter, had won seven of her eight meetings with major champions and showed why as she took the first set in bright sunshine on Rod Laver Arena.
American third seed Gauff, who had not previously dropped a set in 2025, came out firing at the start of the second stanza, however, and got her reward for her more aggressive shot-making when she levelled up the contest at 1-1.
Bencic had a look at Gauff’s serve in the opening game of the decider but the 2023 U.S. Open champion slammed the door shut before breaking for 3-1 as the net cord twice conspired against her opponent.