Underdog Belinda Bencic Scores Upset Over Coco Gauff in Round 16 of Indian Wells
In a stunning turn of events, wildcard Belinda Bencic stunned third seed Coco Gauff in the round of 16 at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. The 28-year-old Swiss player fought back from a set down, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
After returning from her maternity leave in October 2024, Bencic has been on a roll. She's already won her first WTA 1000 quarter-final as a mother and her first title as a mom at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open last month.
This victory marks Bencic as only the sixth wild card to reach the quarter-finals in Indian Wells since the tournament's inception in 1989. "This is why you're practicing and working hard all your life," Bencic said in her on-court interview, visibly emotional.
Next up, Bencic will face Madison Keys in the quarter-final. This will be their second encounter in the last eight at Indian Wells, following Bencic's semi-final campaign in 2019.
Since returning from her maternity break, Bencic claims she's been playing freely, without much pressure. "I think it's just because of the priorities, what tennis means to me changed," she told reporters. "So I don't think about it when I'm on the match."
Bencic's win was no walk in the park. She dropped the first set but regrouped and dominated the next two sets. While Gauff started aggressively, Bencic's improved fitness and strong service game were decisive factors in her comeback.
According to WTA rankings, Bencic's stunning run means that a player returning from maternity leave and competing as a wild card has made the Indian Wells quarter-finals for a second year in a row, following Caroline Wozniacki's last-eight showing in 2024.
Meanwhile, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and Keys also reach the quarter-finals, with Keys coming back from a set down to beat 19th seed Donna Vekic.
- In 2025, tennis fans can anticipate another exciting Indian Wells Open, given Belinda Bencic's performance in this year's tournament and her continued success after her maternity leave.
- Despite the fierce competition, Coco Gauff's loss to Bencic in the round of 16 at the 2025 BNP Paribas Open could serve as a valuable learning experience for the young tennis star.
- As the Indian Wells Tennis tournament approaches its 2025 edition, fans are eager to see if Bencic can claim the title, adding another trophy to her growing collection since her return from maternity leave.
