Coco Gauff had a 9-0 win-loss record at the start of this season, as she helped Team USA clinch the United Cup title and then went on to reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. However, her performance dipped in the Middle East swing, and she struggled even against number 52, Moyuka Uchijima, in her first match in the Indian Wells. But she did manage to make a strong comeback in the next match, beating Maria Sakkari in straight sets.

After securing her spot in the Round of 16, Gauff said, “It’s tennis; it’s ups and downs. Sometimes, you lose matches that you probably could have won, and you win matches that you definitely shouldn’t have won.” The 20-year-old is now all set to face the 2021 Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic in her next match. Can she overcome the Swiss challenge in the pre-quarterfinals?

Coco Gauff vs Belinda Bencic: Preview

Coco Gauff took 1 hour and 35 minutes to beat the two-time finalist Sakkari in her previous match. She defeated the Greek by 7-6(1),6-2, and with that win, she not only avenged her last year’s SF loss but also became the youngest American woman to make it to the R16 at Indian Wells for three consecutive years since Serena Williams (1999-2001). Can Gauff extend her winning streak?

Well, her opponent in this match, Belinda Bencic, has already won a title this season at the Abu Dhabi Open. She’ll be entering this contest following a comfortable 6-4,6-4 win over Diana Shnaider of Russia in the R32.

Gauff vs Bencic: Head-to-Head

Coco Gauff has crossed paths with Belinda Bencic thrice in her career so far. She currently leads the H2H record by a 2-1 margin. This is, in fact, the second time this season that they will lock horns. After their most recent meeting in the Australian Open Round of 16, Gauff admitted, “Belinda is obviously a great player, no matter what form she’s in.” Now, the question is: Can the Swiss force a massive upset at the 2025 Indian Wells?

• 2025 Australian Open R16: Gauff 5-7,6-2,6-1.
• 2023 Washington DC QF: Gauff 6-1,6-2.
• 2021 Adelaide 500 SF: Bencic 7-6(2),6(4)-7,6-2.

Prediction: Gauff will win this match in three sets

Belinda Bencic, as compared to Coco Gauff, has been in better form this season, but Gauff has a better record on this surface. She currently has a win rate of 70% on the hard courts, while it’s just around 62% for Bencic at the moment. Both Gauff (2024) and Bencic (2019) have reached the semifinals of the Indian Wells in the past. If we take a look at the numbers, Gauff (3) currently has a win-loss record of 11-3 in the ongoing season, while for Bencic, it’s 14-4. There is not much of a difference in terms of numbers, but since Gauff will be playing on her home turf, toppling her is going to be a really tough ask for the Swiss.

Talking about their playing styles, Belinda Bencic has an all-court game, and she loves playing an aggressive brand of tennis. She has a strong first serve, but her second serve is on the weaker side. The Swiss can, however, turn defense to offense very quickly, and she also has good lob and drop shots in her armory. However, her biggest concern this season has been the high number of double faults. She has hit only 24 aces this season but committed 47 double faults.

Even Coco Gauff has been struggling a bit with her serves in the last few months. She committed 21 double faults against Uchijima in the first match but reduced it to just 9 in her next match against Sakkari. The 20-year-old has, however, already committed 66 double faults this season! Can Gauff keep things tidy in the R16 match? Time will tell!

However, if we take a look at the other aspects of her game, Gauff is an exceptional athlete, and her incredible defensive prowess allows her to excel in extended rallies. Other than that, her powerful backhand, particularly her flat cross-court shots, could also pose a significant threat to Bencic in this match.

Minimizing the errors will be the key to success in this match. Given how Coco played against Sakkari, she seems to be regaining her rhythm and should win this match in a three-setter to advance.