This promises to be an exciting round of 16 clash. 3rd seed Coco Gauff is currently battling some serious demons in her game.
2025 WTA Tour
WTA 1000
Indian Wells Open
Indian Wells Tennis Garden, California (Outdoor Hardcourt)
Selected Round of 16 Matches- 12th March
Coco Gauff (3) 0.73 vs Belinda Bencic 1.08
This promises to be an exciting round of 16 clash. 3rd seed Coco Gauff is currently battling some serious demons in her game. The former US Open champion ended her 2024 campaign in extraordinary fashion, claiming a maiden WTA Finals crown. And she started this year in similarly mesmeric fashion, winning her first nine matches of the season (winning all five United Cup matches before losing to Badosa in the Aussie Open quarters). But she was in dreadful form during the Middle East swing, going out in the first round in Qatar and Dubai. She ended a three-match losing streak in her Indian Wells opener, barely surviving a three-set marathon against the Japanese player Moyuka Uchijima. She looked more composed in her round of 32 clash, taking down last year’s beaten finalist Maria Sakkari in straight sets. A semi-finalist here last year, Gauff certainly has the all-round game to prosper in this tournament. Her forehand has been awful of late but seemed to be in better working condition against Sakkari. Her biggest current issue is that serve: she has served 30 double faults in her opening two matches! I think Gauff needs to dial back in her quest for greater first-serve power.
Former World No.4 Belinda Bencic has captured the imagination since returning to action following the birth of her daughter. She returned in October last year, sensibly easing herself in with appearances in some lower-tier events. She really reannounced herself by reaching the 4th round of the Aussie Open (pushing Gauff to three sets in the final 16). She then produced a scintillating display in Abu Dhabi, beating Rybakina and Vondrousova en route to the title (her first since 2023). She was eliminated early in Dubai but seems back to her best in Indian Wells. She eased past Tatiana Maria in her opener before taking down Qatar champ Amanda Anisimova in three thrilling sets. She then pulled off another shock, taking down big-hitting Russian Diana Shnaider in straight sets. She returned fabulously, winning a stunning 57% of her first-serve return points. Bencic is a great tactician who knows how to switch fluidly between aggression and counterattacking play.
The Verdict: Bencic to win in three sets at 4- Gauff leads the head-to-head 2-1, winning in three sets at this year’s Aussie Open clash. I think this could be a difficult match for Gauff. She is currently struggling on serve and Bencic is suffocating her opponents on return. Gauff obviously has the power and ability to beat anyone on her day. But I think Bencic’s greater consistency of shot gives her a real chance to overcome the American in three (especially if the American tries to force her forehand too regularly).
