Coco Gauff's Remarkable Resilience

Coco Gauff showcased her remarkable resilience on Sunday, staging an exhilarating comeback to defeat Belinda Bencic and securing her spot in the Australian Open quarterfinals with a final score of 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.

Historic Achievement

This victory not only extends Gauff’s unbeaten streak to nine matches, marking her undefeated start to the 2025 season, but it also places her in rare company. The 19-year-old tennis star now joins legends like Margaret Court, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, and Serena Williams, who have celebrated such successful starts to their careers. “It’s pretty crazy to be amongst the same stat line as legends and I’m very grateful,” Gauff expressed during her post-match interview.

Bittersweet Victory Amid TikTok Shutdown

However, Gauff’s victory was bittersweet as she mourned the impending shutdown of TikTok in the US, which is expected to take effect soon. Demonstrating her sentimental connection to the platform, she drew a heartbroken symbol on the camera lens and wrote “RIP TikTok.” In a press conference, she voiced her disappointment, stating, “Hopefully it comes back. It’s really sad… I love TikTok. It’s like an escape. I honestly do that before matches.”

A Silver Lining

Gauff humorously acknowledged the silver lining, suggesting that the shutdown might encourage her to read more books and become more productive. "Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise," she quipped.

Dominating Performance

In what has been a stellar tournament, Gauff had entered the match against Bencic without dropping a single set. The first set, however, saw her battling tooth and nail against the 2020 Olympic champion, who is making her first Grand Slam appearance since returning to the tour after maternity leave. Despite a fiercely contested first set filled with lengthy rallies, Gauff struggled to maintain her momentum, ultimately losing it 7-5 after Bencic broke her serve.

Turnaround in the Second Set

The tide turned in the second set as Gauff unleashed her aggressive style, winning the first three games with a stunning overhead smash. She dominated the following sets, ultimately dropping just three games overall and showcasing her impressive growth in mental fortitude—a significant change from earlier in her career when dropping the first set often meant defeat.

Looking Ahead

Gauff's eye is now set on her next challenger, No. 11 seed Paula Badosa, who awaits her in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. The rising star's journey in the Australian Open has not only captivated fans but also highlighted her potential to become a defining figure in women's tennis.

Other Tournament Highlights

In other tournament news, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka effortlessly advanced to the quarterfinals, defeating 17-year-old prodigy Mirra Andreeva with a decisive score of 6-1, 6-2. With the Australian Open heating up, all eyes will be on these outstanding athletes as they aim for the coveted title!