Coco Gauff Gives Insights Into Her Bust-Up With Belinda Bencic During Their High-Voltage China Open Clash

Coco Gauff edged past Belinda Bencic in the China Open Round of 16.

Coco Gauff Gives Insights Into Her Bust-Up With Belinda Bencic During Their High-Voltage China Open Clash

Belinda Bencic and Coco Gauff (via NY Times)

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Coco Gauff spoke after her Round of 16 win over Belinda Bencic at the 2025 China Open, where some tension unfolded on court. The defending champion had to rally from a slow start, eventually closing out the match 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2. She later explained the situation and emphasized that she handled it with respect.

The drama began in the second set when Bencic, trailing 2-3, grew upset about a fan cheering after Gauff won a point. Her frustration carried into the changeover, where she voiced her concerns to the chair umpire. She also appeared to be bothered by noise from Gauff’s camp. Gauff said in her post-match press conference:

Yes, I knew she said something to my team, but I didn’t know exactly what. They told me she said, ‘Shut up.’ I didn’t hear it, so I can only go by what they told me. I guess she was upset by their cheering. For me, the stadium is silent, so you can hear both teams. I played in the earlier rounds, and in both of my matches, I could hear the other team very clearly because it was quiet. I don’t mind. I told her to be respectful…I haven’t spoken to her since. She’s entitled to her feelings, and I’m entitled to my reaction.

According to Gauff, her team told her that Bencic told them to “shut up.” The American downplayed the issue, saying that she stayed focused and respectful despite the exchange. From that point forward, she took control of the match, cruising through the final set 6-2.

With this victory, Gauff moved into the quarterfinals, where she will face Germany’s Eva Lys. The result also guaranteed her spot at the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh. She now joins Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Świątek as confirmed qualifiers for the season-ending event.

Coco Gauff edges past Belinda Bencic

American star Coco Gauff stepped onto the court Tuesday with plenty riding on her fourth-round clash at the China Open. A win meant a return to the quarterfinals for the third year in a row, the chance to continue her title defense, and an official ticket to the 2025 WTA Finals.

She delivered on all fronts, grinding out a 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 victory over Belinda Bencic in just under two and a half hours. It was her fourth career win over the Swiss, and her third in their meetings this season.

Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff (Image via X/Coco Gauff Fans)

The match began with Gauff in complete control. Her serve was sharp, and she raced to a 4-1 lead, looking ready to wrap up the set quickly. But the momentum shifted when Bencic found her rhythm. She strung together five straight games to turn the opener around and later broke early in the second set to build pressure.

Gauff refused to fold. Despite missing chances early, she finally broke back to even the set at 4-4. From there, she steadied herself and forced a tiebreak. Both players had strong records in breakers this year, but Gauff showed her grit, rallying from a mini break down to edge it and extend the contest.

The decider was one-way traffic. Gauff secured two breaks of serve and never looked back, sealing the match with authority. The win pushed her to 12-2 in three-set battles this season, once again highlighting her ability to dig deep and rise in key moments.

Coco Gauff’s status as the potential World No.1 in 2025

Iga Swiatek is pushing to reclaim the No. 1 spot in the WTA Rankings, and she has already returned to the top in the UTR Rankings, which track current form. The Polish star bounced back strongly last July after a disappointing clay season, capturing her first Wimbledon crown in commanding fashion. Although she missed out on another Grand Slam at the US Open, she quickly returned to winning ways by lifting the Korea Open trophy against Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Coco Gauff (via X/Tennis Channel)
Coco Gauff (via X/Tennis Channel)

That triumph moved her ahead of Coco Gauff in the UTR standings, with Aryna Sabalenka still holding the official WTA No. 1 ranking. Unlike the WTA system, the UTR algorithm focuses on recent performances rather than results from the past year. Players are rated on a single scale from 1.00 to 16.50, regardless of gender, age, or level of competition, making it a unique measure of current form.

Victories over stronger opponents carry extra weight in UTR scoring, which has helped Swiatek rise rapidly after her Wimbledon breakthrough and her success in Seoul. The win in Korea was also personally meaningful, as her father Tomasz competed in rowing at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Swiatek has often credited his influence as an inspiration for her career and competitive mindset.

With her resurgence reflected in the UTR Rankings, Swiatek is targeting a return to the official No. 1 spot before the season ends. She is in a tight race with Sabalenka and Gauff for year-end honors, while the UTR list also highlights rising form from others, including Emma Raducanu, who has climbed back into 12th position as she works her way toward the top tier again.

Also Read: Coco Gauff Speaks on the Behavior of Chinese Crowd Amid Controversies on Lorenzo Musetti and Taylor Townsend