Coco Gauff stepped onto the court Tuesday with more at stake than usual for a fourth-round match.

A win would send her to the China Open quarterfinals for the third straight year, keep her title defense alive and allow her to officially clinch a spot in the 2025 WTA Finals — her fourth consecutive qualification for the year-end tournament. 

And while it wasn’t easy, the two-time Grand Slam champion checked every box, rallying for a gritty 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory over Belinda Bencic in 2 hours and 29 minutes.

Beijing: Scores | Draws | Order of play

It marked Gauff’s fourth win in six meetings with Bencic — three of them coming in 2025.

“It was a tough match,” Gauff said afterwards. “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, but I tried my best…I’m happy to be back in Riyadh and I’m glad I was able to (qualify) here.”

Gauff came out firing, dominating on serve and racing to a 4-1 lead. She looked poised to cruise through the first set and possibly the match.

Then things got tricky. 

Bencic stormed back, winning five straight games to steal the opening set and later went up a break in the second set. But as she so often does, Gauff dug in.

The American was 1-for-8 on break points before converting her second of the match to level the second set at 4-all. She then held serve to force a tiebreak, where both players had a reason to feel confident.

Gauff entered the day with a 9-5 record in tiebreaks this year; Bencic was slightly better at 9-4. But it was Gauff who came from a mini break down to win the tiebreak and force a decider.

The third set was all Gauff. She broke twice as she improved to 12-2 in three-set matches this season, once again showing the resilience of a champion when it matters most.

Here are three fun facts from Thursday’s match:

Home away from home: Gauff says she loves playing in Beijing and given the number of gifts she continues to receive from fans, it’s easy to see why.

“I hope so,” Gauff said when asked if more presents might be coming. “I love gifts.”

As to why Chinese fans feel so connected to Gauff, it may have to do with the fact that since 2023, Gauff has earned 16 WTA-level wins on Chinese soil, second only to China’s Zheng Qinwen (17).

Three strikes and you’re out: If you’re Bencic or Leylah Fernandez, please look away.

With Tuesday’s win, Gauff has now beaten Bencic three times in four tries this season. Coincidentally, she’s also defeated Fernandez three times in 2025.

The third win against each sent both players packing in their search for Beijing glory.

Youngest to ever do it: It’s easy to forget that Gauff is still only 21 years old.

Until you realize she’s the youngest player to register nine consecutive wins in women’s singles at the China Open since the tournament began in 2004.

And that she’s also the youngest to play 14 matches, win 13 matches and reach three quarterfinals at the event — all since its inception.

Gauff will face Eva Lys in the quarterfinals in what will be the first meeting between the two. A win would send Gauff to her third consecutive China Open semifinal and third WTA 1000 semifinal of the season.