“Just trying to stick through those tough moments and get better through them,” said Coco Gauff in a conversation with the Roland Garros website on the eve of her 21st birthday. Earlier this season, Gauff suffered a painful defeat at the hands of Belinda Bencic in Indian Wells. She looked to avenge that loss in their next meet in Madrid, which she did. Now, destiny had them pitted against each other one more time. In Beijing, the battle between Gauff and Bencic turned up a notch in intensity on Diamond Court, not by virtue of outcome but because of one heated exchange.

After Bencic snatched the first set in the R16 against Gauff, the second set saw unexpected drama. Just when the score reached 2-3, the Swiss pro became annoyed on the court. Apparently, she had a problem with a random person in the crowd who was cheering for her opponent. To this, Gauff clarified to her, saying, “There’s nobody in the stadium. It’s been so respectful.” However, Bencic shot right back, “They can cheer after the point”.

She seemed further riled up, “When the point is over, it’s no problem, I don’t care. But when I’m going to the line ready to serve, they don’t need to cheer.” The war of words continued as Gauff responded next, to which Bencic’s anger got the best of her, “No one’s talking to you. She’s talking to me, okay! Your team is chatting. I’m too old for these mind games okay!”

Following this verbal tension, the match was bound to get personal for both the players. And that’s exactly what transpired as well. After Bencic took the first set, Gauff made a sensational return in the next. While the Swiss WTA icon gave it her all, in a thrilling tiebreak, the American was the one who had the last laugh, pushing the result into a decider.

By the end of a marathon 2-hour-29-minute battle, it was Gauff who ultimately managed to have an upper hand over the 28-year-old. After finding the form in the second set, she didn’t let the momentum slow down. The defending China Open champion breezed past Bencic with a final score line of 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2.

Coco Gauff locks her spot in the WTA Finals

It was Coco Gauff’s fourth overall and second-straight victory against Belinda Bencic after taking her down in Madid few months ago. The two-time slam winner has now entered the quarterfinal stage at the China Open.

With the fourth round win in Beijing on Tuesday, Gauff has also qualified for the WTA Finals in Riyadh. Last season she was the winner there after besting Qinwen Zheng in the final. This time, too, the 21-year-old will look to repeat the milestone.

But before that, she will try to reclaim her crown at the China Open. The World No.3 will now take on the winner between McCartney Kessler and Eva Lys who are fighting it out right now in their R16 clash.

Since her Roland Garros triumph back in June, Gauff has failed to leave an impact on the court. At Wimbledon, she was ousted in the first round by Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska. Then at the Canadian Open, local star and teenage sensation Victoria Mboko bested her in the fourth round. Even in Cincinnati, the American star couldn’t move past the QF stage against Jasmine Paolini.

At the US Open, too, the situation remained unchanged as the winner of 2023 edition failed to make a deep run. Four-time slam champion Naomi Osaka beat her in the fourth round in straight sets. Looking forward, however, Gauff will try to wrap up the season on a winning note, beginning with the China Open. Can she really leave her recent setbacks behind and emerge victorious this week? Only time will tell.