Gauff to meet Badosa in last eight after beating Bencic

No.3 seed Coco Gauff had to come from behind on Sunday to reach the 2025 Australian Open quarterfinals, earning a gritty 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 win over new mom Belinda Bencic on Rod Laver Arena.

Gauff lost a set for the first time this season in her Round-of-16 clash with 2021 Olympic gold medalist Bencic of Switzerland. But the American recovered to execute a 2-hour and 26-minute comeback and improve her 2025 win-loss record to 9-0.

Gauff also began last year 9-0, and she is the first woman to post back-to-back 9-0 starts to a season since Victoria Azarenka in 2012-2013. The 20-year-old Gauff is also the youngest woman to pull off that feat since Monica Seles in 1992-1993.

No.11 seed Paula Badosa will be Gauff’s quarterfinal opponent. Badosa of Spain topped Olga Danilovic of Serbia 6-1, 7-6(2) in their fourth-round match on Sunday. Gauff and Badosa’s head-to-head is tied at three wins apiece, although Gauff won their two meetings last year.

Last year’s WTA Comeback Player of the Year, Badosa has reached the quarterfinals of the last two Slams. Despite peaking at World No.2 in 2022, Badosa had only reached one other Grand Slam quarterfinal in her career (2021 Roland Garros).

Now, Badosa is blazing a trail for Spain. She is the first Spanish woman to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals since Garbiñe Muguruza made the 2020 final. Badosa is also the first Spanish woman to make quarterfinals at consecutive Slams since Muguruza in 2015.