Coco Gauff advanced to the China Open quarter-finals after a heated match against Belinda Bencic, demonstrating both resilience and composure under pressure. The confrontation began when Bencic, 28, expressed frustration at the noise coming from Gauff’s team in the stands.
When Gauff intervened, Bencic replied sharply: “No-one's talking to you. Your team is chatting. I'm too old for these mind games.” Despite the tension, the 21-year-old American turned the match around, winning 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2.
Reflecting on the incident, Gauff said she only learned about Bencic’s comments from her team. She emphasized the importance of respect on court: “I've been nice with her team off court. We moved on after that. She's entitled to her feelings and I'm entitled to how I respond.”
Gauff also expressed admiration for Bencic, noting her accomplishments as a mother returning to top-level tennis, and acknowledged that while the confrontation was unfortunate, it did not diminish her respect for the Swiss player.
The American star echoed concerns raised by Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek about the demanding tennis calendar, explaining that the current schedule is physically exhausting. “I've basically played as much tennis as I possibly can. With more events lasting two weeks, it just doesn’t make sense to strain your body,” Gauff added.
This match highlighted not only Gauff’s mental toughness but also the ongoing debate among top players about the physical demands of the modern tennis season.
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