‘Pretty crazy’ for Coco Gauff as she adds her name to exclusive list with win over Belinda Bencic at Australian Open

Coco Gauff was taken to three sets by Belinda Bencic on Rod Laver Arena, but battled through to make it to the quarter-finals at the Australian Open for the second-straight year. But the young American didn’t just get the win today, she also added her name to a very exclusive list of Grand Slam winners to record nine-straight wins at the start of three separate seasons.

'It's pretty crazy!' - Gauff reacts to stat comparing her with legends

Video credit: TNT Sports

Coco Gauff’s march towards the latter stages of the Australian Open has continued, but the American was made to work hard for her victory against Belinda Bencic.

The Swiss star, who has recently come back from maternity leave, took the opening set but Gauff fought back to win 5-7 6-2 6-1 and advance to the quarter-finals in Melbourne for the second-straight year.

The world No. 3 opened up her season at the United Cup, where she recorded five impressive straight-sets wins, including over Iga Swiatek.

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And when you add in her four wins in Melbourne, you have nine-straight victories - with 2025 the third season she has achieved that feat.

Only four other players have started the year with nine wins on three occasions, and the list makes for some impressive reading.

On it are Margaret Court, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and one of Gauff’s idols, Serena Williams. So, how does Gauff feel to be in such illustrious company?

Gauff recovers in comeback win over Bencic - Australian Open highlights

Video credit: TNT Sports

"It's pretty crazy to be amongst the same stat line as legends and I’m very grateful," Gauff said after her match.

"We worked hard in the off-season. Obviously, there is a long way to go for me to achieve my goals, but I can say I’m proud of myself and how I perform.

"It’s funny because I felt like a couple of years ago I had a really bad flat line where if I lost the first set I’d lose the match, and I remember my Dad was like ‘you have to get some fight in you’, so every time I remember that and dig deeper."

Gauff did have to fight after dropping her first set of the year to Bencic, a former Slam semi-finalist and Olympic gold medallist who is no push over.

But Gauff changed up her game after dropping a tight opening set, and motored through the remainder of the match.

"I thought in the first set she played great tennis, it was tough for me to be on the offence. I just played more aggressively in the second set and the third," Gauff added.

Badosa battles past doughty Danilovic - Australian Open highlights

Video credit: TNT Sports

"But overall, I’m happy with how I played. The first set could have easily gone my way with two more points. But that’s tennis, I just tried to reset."

The American plays Paulo Badosa next, the Spanish star beating Olga Danilovic in straight sets. The duo played twice last year, with both matches going the distance and the head-to-head is tied at 3-3.

"I expect a tough match," said Gauff, who is on the same side of the draw as the world No. 1, with the mouth-watering match up against defending champion Aryna Sabalenka a potential semi-final should Gauff manage to get the better of Badosa in a couple of days’ time.

Watch and stream the 2025 Australian Open live on Eurosport and discovery+

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