Coco Gauff had to dig deep to beat Belinda Bencic 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 in 2 hours and 29 minutes reaching the quarter final at the China Open in Beijing. With this win Gauff has secured her spot in the WTA Finals in Riyadh.
Gauff beat Bencic for the fourth time in their six head-to-head matches.
Gauff broke serve in the fourth game to race out to a 4-1 lead in the first set, but Bencic bounced back by winning five consecutive games to clinch the first set 6-4.
Bencic went up a break in the seventh game of the second set to take a 4-3 lead. Gauff pulled the break back to draw level to 4-4 forcing the second set to the tie-break. Gauff went down 3-4 down in the tie-break but she fought back by winning the next four points to clinch the tie-break 7-4.
Gauff went up a double break in the first and fifth games to open up a 4-1 lead. The US player closed out the third set on the second match point.
Gauff improved to 12-2 in three-set matches this season.
Coco Gauff: “It was a tough match. I had chances in the first set to close it out, but overall, I’m happy with how I fought. She was being really aggressive, but I tried my best. … I’m happy to be back in Riyadh and I’m glad I was able to qualify here.”
