🎾 WTA Madrid: Belinda Bencic vs Coco Gauff

🎾 WTA Madrid: Belinda Bencic vs Coco Gauff – Match Preview

🧠 Form & Context

🇺🇸 Coco Gauff

• Patchy but Progressing: Reached the fourth round in Madrid for the second straight year, despite erratic play.
• Survival Mode: Rallied from a 0-6 first set vs Dayana Yastremska and overcame 23 unforced errors to beat Ann Li.
• Madrid Hurdle: Twice stalled at this stage, losing to Halep (2022) and Keys (2024).
• Clay Pedigree: Ten career clay-court quarterfinals, including a Roland-Garros final.
• Recent Form: No tournament past the third round since the Australian Open QF.

🇨🇭 Belinda Bencic

• Motherhood Comeback: Reached R4 after beating Sonmez, Tauson, and Haddad Maia in a three-set comeback.
• Trophy Lift: Champion at Abu Dhabi this year, helping solidify her top-50 return.
• Resilient Spirit: Saved multiple breakpoints under pressure, showing restored match toughness.
• Madrid Success: Two-time quarterfinalist and a semifinalist here (2019), making it one of her best clay tournaments.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Coco Gauff enters with natural clay advantages—athleticism, topspin-heavy forehand, and strong movement. Yet her inconsistency and high unforced error count open the door for Belinda Bencic’s cleaner, first-strike game.

Bencic’s flat hitting and comfort in quicker clay conditions could exploit Gauff’s weaknesses, particularly if she draws Gauff into mid-court, awkward rallies. However, Gauff’s ability to control the tempo with her serve and forehand aggression remains a major weapon if she stays composed.

Their 2–2 head-to-head (with three three-setters) underlines how unpredictable and momentum-driven this matchup tends to be.

🔮 Prediction

✔️ Prediction: Coco Gauff in 3 sets

Expect another swingy, emotionally charged battle, but Gauff’s clay prowess and physical edge should ultimately tilt the scales her way.

---