Gauff Advances to Madrid Open Quarterfinals Amid Power Outage

MADRID: In a dominant display at Park Manzanares, Coco Gauff defeated Belinda Bencic of Switzerland with a score of 6-4, 6-2 in the round of 16 at the Madrid Open on Monday, securing her spot in the quarterfinals.

The World No. 4 American player began the match with assurance, demonstrating marked progress from her previous performances. Gauff secured 85% of her first-serve points, served two aces, and only committed one double fault during the match.

The initial set remained competitive up to 4-4, after which Gauff elevated her play to capture the subsequent two games and win the set. Continuing her momentum into the second set, she broke Bencic’s serve twice and reinforced her command with two further breaks to clinch the match in straight sets.

Shortly after Gauff’s victory, a widespread national power outage impacted the tournament, resulting in considerable logistical challenges for both the athletes and spectators.

“It was challenging. I resorted to using baby wipes to freshen up, added some perfume, and tried to make the best of it,” Gauff commented regarding the situation post-match. “I doubt we’ll be able to return to the hotel soon because the traffic signals are not working.”

Reflecting on the disruption, she stated, “It’s remarkable how reliant we’ve become on electricity. It truly offers a new perspective — and prompts consideration of how impressive life was for people before electricity existed.”

Gauff is now set to compete against Mirra Andreeva of Russia, currently ranked World No. 7, in the quarterfinals scheduled for Wednesday. Andreeva advanced after a decisive victory over Yulia Starodubtseva with scores of 6-1, 6-4 in their round of 16 encounter.

The upcoming match between Gauff and Andreeva is highly anticipated, marking their first encounter since their 2023 match, where Gauff was victorious.