Coco Gauff Battles Bencic in Beijing and Secures WTA Finals Spot
The China Open has delivered its share of drama, and Coco Gauff was right at the center of it. The 21-year-old American, who has already collected two Grand Slam titles, found herself in a fiery clash with Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic during their round of 16 match in Beijing. What began as a routine contest quickly turned tense when Bencic grew frustrated with the noise coming from Gauff’s team in the stands. She brought it up to the umpire, and when Gauff tried to respond, Bencic snapped back with, “No one’s talking to you. Your team is chatting. I’m too old for these mind games.”
Despite the heated moment, Gauff kept her focus and pulled through the match in three sets, winning 4-6, 7-6, 6-2. Afterward, she admitted she hadn’t heard the original remark but was told by her team that Bencic had told them to “shut up.” Gauff explained that she only stepped in to ask for respect, saying that while she has always been cordial with Bencic and her team off the court, she didn’t appreciate the tone of that exchange. Still, she emphasized that she respected Bencic as both a player and a competitor who has made her return to the tour as a mother. For Gauff, the situation was acknowledged but quickly left behind, as the match was ultimately decided by her composure and athletic edge.
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This win keeps Gauff’s strong 2025 season rolling. Already a French Open champion this year and last year’s US Open winner, she has proven she can thrive under pressure. She has also made deep runs at big events, reaching finals in Madrid and Rome, plus a string of quarterfinal appearances across the tour. Her consistency has now been rewarded with a confirmed spot at the WTA Finals in Riyadh this November, where she will return as the defending champion. If she manages to lift the Billie Jean King Trophy again, she would become the first player since Serena Williams to defend the prestigious year-end title.
Gauff also touched on a bigger issue facing tennis players today: the length of the season. She echoed Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek’s concerns, pointing out that with more tournaments stretching to two weeks, the physical strain is becoming harder to manage. In her words, “I think I’ve basically played as much tennis as I possibly can. It’s just impossible to keep up.”
As for her immediate future, the quarterfinals of the China Open await, where Gauff will look to build even more momentum heading into the season’s final stretch. With her mix of maturity, athletic brilliance, and growing leadership on tour, she is shaping up not only as one of tennis’s brightest stars but also as one of its strongest voices.
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