‘You’re the one playing mind games’ – Coco Gauff and Belinda Bencic clash in fiery China Open encounter as American makes quarter-finals

Coco Gauff progressed to the China Open quarter-finals with 6-4 6-7 2-6 victory over Belinda Bencic.

It was not a straightforward win for the world No. 3, though, as she exchanged words with her “aggressive” opponent in the second set.

During a changeover at the mostly empty stadium, Bencic expressed her frustration with Gauff’s coaching team.

“I’m going to the line, ready to serve, they don’t need to cheer,” the Swiss said towards the umpire.

When Gauff interjected, Bencic added: “No one’s talking to you. I haven’t started. Your team is chatting. I’m too old for these mind games, okay?”

“You’re the one playing the mind games,” Gauff replied.

Gauff recovered well after losing the first set to take the second via a tie-break, before an emphatic decisive third set.

She will play either Eva Lys of Germany or compatriot McCartney Kessler in the last eight in Beijing.

In the remaining round-of-16 ties, sixth seed Jasmine Paolini will face Marie Bouzkova, and Karolina Muchova is up against world No. 4 Amanda Anisimova.

“It was a tough match,” Gauff said. “I had chances in the first to close it out but overall I’m happy with how I fought. She was being really aggressive.”

Victory for Gauff also meant qualification for the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia in November.

“Happy to qualify once again. Happy to be back in Riyadh and I’m glad I was able to do it here,” Gauff said in her on-court interview. “It’s been a tough tournament so far, but I’m happy to get through.”

Gauff’s immediate aim will be to win a second successive China Open title, and she said she is feeling the love of her fans in East Asia.

“It’s more gifts than I’ve gotten on Christmas, and I was a pretty spoiled kid (smiling),” she said.

“It’s just insane. Every day I’ve woken up here, I definitely feel that gratefulness. Now I want to take that more on the road.

“I don’t know if I’ll get as many gifts elsewhere in the world. I hope the western side of the world can be as nice as the Chinese fans are with the gift-giving because I love gifts.

“I love being spoiled. I like receiving things. It’s fun… Yeah, I love it here. And I love my life that I live, for sure.”