Coco Gauff suffers defeat to Belinda Bencic in Indian Wells Open 2025 round of 16

U.S. tennis star Coco Gauff fell to Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Belinda Bencic in three sets Wednesday (12 March) in the fourth round of the 2025 Indian Wells Open.

Bencic earned a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory, bringing the duo's record to even, with each having won two matches against the other.

The pair's meeting was a rematch of their same-stage encounter at this year’s Australian Open, in which Gauff triumphed, as both sought to reach the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 tennis tournament in California, USA.

Gauff came out strong, holding serve to open before breaking Bencic at 2-0 with a backhand winner. But the Swiss star responded, capitalising on Gauff’s serving issues – four double faults in her first two service games – to break back and level the set at 2-2.

The momentum swung again as Gauff broke once more for 4-2 and backed it up with a hold shortly after. Bencic fought to extend the set, holding for 5-3, but Gauff served it out with authority to take the first set 6-3.

Bencic responded in the second set, taking an early break off Gauff's serve and never looking back. She served to force a decisive third set with two set points, holding to extend the match.

Both players held steady through the first eight games, staying on serve for 4-4. Gauff seemed in control of her service game at 40-0 but let Bencic back in, eventually facing and saving a break point before the Swiss earned another opportunity and capitalised.

Bencic held her serve – and her nerve – to win the third set and the match.

Earlier in the tournament, Gauff took revenge on Maria Sakkari, who defeated her in the 2024 Indian Wells semi-final, while wildcard Bencic overcame two seeded youngsters on her way to the round of 16: Amanda Anisimova and Diana Shnaider.

In the quarterfinals, Bencic will face either 2025 Australian Open winner Madison Keys or Donna Vekić.

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