Coco Gauff and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka delivered contrasting performances in their round of 16 matches at the Australian Open, securing their places in the quarter-finals. While Gauff survived a tough three-set battle against Belinda Bencic, Sabalenka easily dominated rising star Mirra Andreeva.
Gauff fights against Bencic
World number 3 Gauff had to draw on her resources to overcome former world number 4 Belinda Bencic, who is making her comeback after giving birth at the end of 2024. Gauff came back from a set down to win 5-7, 6-2, 6 -1.
After losing the first set, Gauff stepped up his aggression, hitting 27 winners in the final two sets and forcing Bencic into 21 unforced errors. The 20-year-old American improved her 2025 record to a perfect 9-0 and extended her winning streak to 11 matches, dating back to her triumph at the WTA Finals in November 2024.
Ahead of her quarterfinal match against Paula Badosa, Gauff acknowledged the challenge:
“It’s always a tough match against Paula. She is a great competitor, and I will have to give my best.”
Sabalenka surclasse Andreeva
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka quickly disposed of Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva, delivering a clinical 6-1, 6-2 performance in just over an hour. The Belarusian dictated the match from the start, hitting 15 winners and three aces while breaking her opponent four times. Sabalenka didn’t face a single break point, showing the form that helped her win the 2024 Australian Open title.
Sabalenka is now preparing for a quarter-final clash against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, another experienced Russian player.
Quarter-final clashes to watch
- Coco Gauff vs. Paula Badosa : With a 3-3 head-to-head record, Gauff enters as the favorite, having won both of their meetings in 2024. However, Badosa’s powerful baseline game could pose a tough challenge.
- Aryna Sabalenka vs. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova : Sabalenka’s dominance and consistency make her the favorite, but Pavlyuchenkova’s experience and versatility could make this matchup intriguing.
