Tennis sensation Coco Gauff’s Australian Open hopes were marred by the news of TikTok layoffs, but she bounced back from her emotions to secure a thrilling victory over Belinda Bencic. Will the shutdown force her to find new ways to fuel her dominance?
Australian Open Quarterfinals: Coco Gauff’s Unbeaten Streak Continues Amid TikTok Shutdown Worries
Coco Gauff produced an impressive comeback win to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals on Sunday, defeating Belinda Bencic 5-7 6-2 6-1. The victory continued Gauff’s unbeaten start to 2025 and marked her ninth consecutive win to start the year.
Gauff’s Unbeatable Form
Gauff’s impressive form this year has been unmatched, with only two players – Margaret Court, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, and Serena Williams – having enjoyed as many perfect starts to their seasons. The 2023 US Open champion attributed her success to a newfound fight within herself, recalling a conversation with her father that urged her to dig deeper when facing adversity.
A Bittersweet Victory
After the match, Gauff expressed sadness over the shutdown of TikTok in the US ahead of an impending ban. She drew a broken heart on one of the TV camera lenses and wrote: “RIP TikTok.” Despite this, she remained optimistic, suggesting that the ban might be a blessing in disguise, forcing her to read more books and become a more productive person.
Gauff’s Dominant Performance
Gauff’s athleticism played a crucial role in her victory over Bencic. After trailing 4-4 in the first set, she broke back with a stunning backhand winner down the line, which sealed the break. From there, she dominated the match, winning three consecutive games to begin the second set and dropping only three games across the entire second and third sets.
Gauff’s Next Challenge
Gauff will now face No. 11 seed Paula Badosa on Tuesday for a place in the semifinals. With her unbeaten start still intact, she looks poised to continue her impressive form at the Australian Open.
