Gauff fights back to join Sabalenka in quarters

Australian Open 2025

Dates: 12-26 January Venue: Melbourne Park

Coco Gauff defeated Belinda Bencic from a set down to advance to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.

The American third seed was not at her best but outlasted Switzerland’s Bencic 5-7 6-2 6-1.

Earlier, Sabalenka breezed past Russian 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva in a 6-1 6-2 victory.

Gauff’s victory in 34 degree heat – the hottest day of the tournament so far – extended the 20-year-old’s winning run to 11 matches.

“Maybe a couple of years ago, if I lost the first set I might lose the match, and I remember my dad said ‘ we’ve got to toughen you up'”, said Gauff.

“I was just trying to put myself in a position where I could leave the court and be proud of myself.”

After capturing the match against Andreeva in just 62 minutes on Rod Laver Arena, Belarusian top seed Sabalenka, 26, is still on track to win the Australian Open.

It was the two-time champion’s 18th win in a row at Melbourne Park, and sets up a quarter-final against another Russian, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Pavlyuchenkova beat Croatia’s Donna Vekic 7-6 (7-0) 6-0 in the fourth round earlier on Sunday.

After beating Serbia’s Olga Danilovic 6-1 7-6 (7-2) in the last eight, Gauff will face Paula Badosa, the 11th seed.

Gauff and Bencic, who won gold in the Tokyo Olympics, have not lost a set in eight matches so far this year.

She struggled with her serve throughout, and two double errors from the American gave Bencic the decisive break she needed to break out of the first set in 62 minutes, as she has done on previous occasions.

Gauff started to take control midway through the match, but Bencic faded in the Melbourne heat in the dying moments of the match.

Gauff began to lead the third set when she broke a difficult hold after three deuces, going 3-1 up and safely ensuring the remainder of the match.

“I thought, first set, she played great tennis and it was tough for me to be on the offensive”, said Gauff.

Sabalenka has struggled at times this year’s Australian Open, dropping her serve eight times in her previous two victories, but she did so against teenager Andreeva.

Before taking a 4-1 lead, she continued to dominate her first two service games, going all-in without conceding a point.

In just 24 hours, Sabalenka broke once more before a strong backhand completed the first set.

In the second set, Andreeva exhibited some indication of a fightback, collecting three break points, but Sabalenka managed to save them all in the end.

“I’m super happy to get this win. Mirra is so young, so mature, such a great player. She can play really great tennis”, said Sabalenka.

“I’m very pleased with my level today, and I hope the conditions stay the same throughout the tournament.”

Sabalenka hopes to win three consecutive Australian Open titles, joining Martina Hingis and Martina Hingis, who won the previous two years.