Coco Gauff Admits She Rushed to Close Out Belinda Bencic Match Due to Wimbledon’s 11 PM Curfew

Coco Gauff will be playing the quarterfinals of Wimbledon for the first time in her career. In the fourth round, she came from a set down to knock out Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to schedule her match against countrywoman Jessica Pegula.

Gauff, who pointed at her wrist after smashing a winner on match point, admitted during the press conference that she tried to fight against time because of Wimbledon’s 11 pm curfew. The match, which started at 8:40 pm, finished after two hours and 20 minutes, just two minutes before the curfew. The American ace was thinking about the curfew throughout the match.

Before the match, we were told that it would end at 11:00. We started the third set at 10:05. It should have been enough time to finish the set, but I was unsure. Then we had a couple of long games. Suddenly, it was 10:45, and I thought, ‘Oh my goodness.’ I didn’t want to come back to play tomorrow. I was just trying to get a break advantage and maintain it because I thought, ‘I’d rather serve with a break lead than the other way around.’

The win helped the two-time Grand Slam singles champion improve the head-to-head record to 6-2. It was also her fourth consecutive win over the Swiss ace.

Yes, I didn’t realize that once we started the last game, they would let us finish it, no matter how long it took. I thought it would end no matter what at 11:00. It was good to know for next time, so I wouldn’t have to rush that much. They told us before the match that it would end at 11:00.

Coco Gauff added

Before arriving in London, the 22-year-old suffered a second-round upset at the hands of Paula Badosa in Berlin. Gauff, the winner of 11 titles from 16 finals, has yet to reach a final on grass.

Coco Gauff on whether she has an advantage of playing against Jessica Pegula on Centre Court

Jessica Pegula has never played on Centre Court, but she will be walking onto this court for her match against Coco Gauff. The World No.7 doesn’t think she would have an advantage of playing Pegula on Centre Court.

Perhaps if I play in the first round and face someone younger who has never been in this situation, not even in the quarterfinals, I don’t know, maybe someone younger. That doesn’t always work. Maybe. But regarding Jess, no, she has too much experience on the big stages. I don’t think that will influence the match. 

Coco Gauff said at the press conference

Pegula holds a 5-3 head-to-head lead over Gauff and also defeated her in their last meeting in the round-robin stage of the 2025 WTA Finals. Before scheduling the match against Gauff, Pegula eliminated teen sensation Iva Jovic.

Pegula has already lifted two titles this season. After winning the Dubai Tennis Championships, the 32-year-old defended her crown at the Charleston Open. But she lost the Berlin Open to Linda Noskova. Pegula is the winner of two grass-court titles from three finals.

Gauff has not won a title since winning the 2025 Wuhan Open. This season, she has played two finals: lost the Miami Open to World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and the Italian Open to Elina Svitolina. Pegula will be playing in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon for the second time in her career (first reached in 2023).

The winner of the Gauff versus Pegula match will play Naomi Osaka or Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals. Osaka upset Sabalenka in the fourth round, while Muchova knocked out 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova.

Also read: Tom Hiddleston and Andrew Garfield Watch Alex Eala Stun Iga Świątek at Wimbledon