Gauff defeats Bencic 6–3, 1–6, 6–3 to reach Miami Open semifinals
No. 4 seed Coco Gauff is through to the semifinals of the Miami Open after a hard-fought 6–3, 1–6, 6–3 victory over No. 12 seed Belinda Bencic. Despite trailing in total points (88–86), Gauff proved more clinical in the defining moments of a match that lasted just over two hours, with no tiebreaks played.
The 22-year-old, a two-time Grand Slam champion, becomes the youngest American to reach the women’s singles semifinals at the tournament since Serena Williams in 2004, the same year Gauff was born.
Serve Battle: Precision vs Power
Bencic delivered with consistency, landing 74% of her first serves compared to Gauff’s 58%, and committing no double faults. However, Gauff’s serve carried greater impact:
- Won 76% of first-serve points (Bencic: 61%)
- Fired 6 aces (Bencic: 3)
- Balanced aggression despite 5 double faults
When Gauff’s first serve landed, it consistently gave her the upper hand in rallies.
Return Game Proves Decisive
The biggest separation came on return. Gauff claimed 41 return points to Bencic’s 33, a crucial margin in such a tight contest. Both players broke serve four times, but the pressure told a deeper story:
- Bencic saved 9 of 13 break points
- Gauff saved 1 of 5 break points
Even so, Gauff’s ability to win key return points late in the third set ultimately decided the match.
Momentum swings across three sets
- Set 1: Gauff took control early, winning 83% of first-serve points and securing two breaks for a 6–3 lead.
- Set 2: Bencic responded emphatically, dominating 6–1 by winning 18 service points to Gauff’s 6.
- Set 3: Gauff raised her level when it mattered, winning 80% of first-serve points and striking three aces to close it out 6–3.
Bencic remained solid on second-serve returns but struggled to handle Gauff’s first delivery in the decider, winning just 20% of those points.
While the numbers underline how close the match was, Gauff’s edge came from execution in high-pressure moments. Her mix of aggressive serving and timely returning allowed her to secure the crucial breaks needed to advance.
It was a composed and intelligent performance from the American, reinforcing her status as one of the top contenders for the title in Miami.
SportsLigue