It proved to be a close call but Coco Gauff is through to the quarter-finals at the Australian Open for the second time in her very young career.
The maiden Grand Slam of the calendar year held in Melbourne hasn’t been the best for Gauff. Last year she reached the semi-final but had not been past the fourth round before that.
This year, the American’s confidence will be sky-high coming into the event. Gauff won the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia at the end of 2024 and clearly that has seen her confidence skyrocket.
Iga Swiatek has praised Gauff already at this tournament. The pair are on a collision course to meet at some point and tennis fans all over the world will be rooting for that match-up.
Coco Gauff shares what her coach made her do better against Belinda Bencic
It’s perhaps a good thing that Gauff has had a bit of a test at this tournament now. Gauff came through the opening three rounds without losing a set but that run has now evaporated.
Bencic took the opening set 7-5 and that required some words from her coach to kick-start the American player and get her into gear to progress to the last eight of the competition.
Gauff’s coach takes a lot of credit for the 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 victory and she’s explained that there was something that she simply had to do better.
Gauff said in her press conference: “Yeah, I just got literally one (instruction), which was to be more aggressive. That was basically it.
“She was playing great tennis. I was playing a lot of defence. I felt like my balls were landing short. I knew that.
“Obviously when I lost that set, I knew I was playing a bit too passive at moments. Again, like I said, it’s tough when you’re playing someone who is standing on top of the baseline and ripping it. I almost just kind of had to play like her, honestly, just to get out of that.
“Yeah, I think I just started going for my shots more and being okay with maybe making more unforced errors and hopefully seeing the reward later on.”
Coco Gauff head to head vs Paula Badosa
Next up is a clash with the in-form Spaniard and Badosa is aiming to reach the semi-final of a Grand Slam for the very first time by sending Gauff packing in Melbourne.
It’s fair to say that things are finely poised too. The two players have met each other six times with both players claiming three victories each.
The most recent clash saw Gauff prevail in Beijing last year, with Gauff winning their only other meeting in 2024 which took place in Rome.
Gauff and Badosa have never played each other in a Grand Slam and it will be fascinating to see how the games goes when they meet in the last eight.
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