Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Coco Gauff and Belinda Bencic will square off in the round of 16 at the WTA Madrid Open 2025. The fourth-seeded Coco Gauff received a bye in the first round and faced Dayana Yastremska in the second round. Yastremska dominated the first set 6–0, but Gauff came back to win the second set and secured a hard-fought victory in the decisive third set. Gauff then advanced to the third round, defeating Ann Li in straight sets.
On the other hand, Belinda Bencic won her first two rounds in straight sets, defeating Zeynep Sonmez and Clara Tauson, respectively. In the third round, she faced Beatriz Haddad Maia and won in a tough three-set battle to reach the round of 16.
Gauff after beating Li in Madrid“I believe one of your fans got your autograph tattooed…”Coco: “2 years ago, she asked me to sign her arm. She said she was gonna get it tattooed but I didn’t believe her. I saw her here & she actually got it”💀
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 26, 2025
Coco Gauff and Belinda Bencic are tied at 2–2 in their head-to-head record. The rivalry began in 2021, with Bencic defeating Gauff in three sets at the Adelaide 500 semifinals. In 2023, Gauff bounced back in Washington, D.C., securing a straight-sets win in the quarterfinals.
Their third encounter came in January 2025 at the Australian Open, where Gauff had a come-from-behind win. However, Bencic leveled the score later, in March, at Indian Wells, defeating Gauff after losing the first set but taking the next two to even their record.
YearEventRoundWinnerScore2025Indian WellsRound of 16Belinda Bencic3–6, 6–3, 6–42025Australian OpenRound of 16Coco Gauff5–7, 6–2, 6–12023Washington DCQuarterfinalsCoco Gauff6–1, 6–22021Adelaide 500SemifinalBelinda Bencic7–6(2), 4–6, 6–2
Coco GauffCategoryBelinda Bencic4WTA Ranking42243-105Career W-L409-21214-6YTD W-L18-710Career Titles91Grand Slams01YTD Titles1
Gauff had a notable win over world No. 2 Iga Swiatek at the United Cup, winning in straight sets. However, since Melbourne, Gauff hasn’t progressed past the quarterfinals in any singles event. On the other hand, Belinda Bencic defeated top players like Gauff and Elena Rybakina. She also won her ninth singles title at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Open and defeated top players like Gauff and Elena Rybakina too.
However, Gauff holds an impressive 73% win rate on clay, proven by reaching the singles final at the 2022 French Open and winning the 2024 French Open doubles title. Even though Bencic seems in form, Gauff’s strong track record gives her the edge.
Prediction: Coco Gauff in straight sets
Coco Gauff: 11/25
Belinda Bencic: 9/5
