Coco Gauff took care of business on multiple levels on Tuesday in Beijing. The American rallied past Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, 4-6 7-6(4) 6-2, and by doing so became the third women to book her ticket to the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh.
21-year-old Gauff qualifies for the Tour’s season-ending championships for the fourth consecutive year, and stretches her China Open winning streak to nine victories, rallying from a set down to improve to 4-2 lifetime over 16th-ranked Bencic.
Third-seeded Gauff had the early advantage, and took a 4-1 lead in the opening set before dropping five consecutive games to the 28-year-old.
Bencic then led by a set and break at 4-3 in the second but Gauff pegged her back with a break for 4-all before taking the middle set in a breaker.
“It was a tough match,” Gauff said. “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 so I tried my best to stay in.”
In the final set the American took an early lead and made it stick, breaking for 1-0 and again for 4-1 before serving out the match three games later to improve to 41-13 on the season.
The world No.3 finished with 37 winners to 18 for Bencic – both players committed 42 unforced errors.
She joins Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek as the third player to lock down a spot in Riyadh.
“Happy to be back in Riyadh and I’m glad I was able to [qualify} here,” she said.
The American is 13-1 lifetime in Beijing, and will face Eva Lys, who defeated McCartney Kessler 4-6 6-1 6-2, in the quarterfinals.
Gauff has won 12 of 14 three-setters this year
