Gauff digs past Bencic for a maiden Wimbledon quarterfinal – and the last eight at every Slam

Coco Gauff came from a set down to beat Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time. Victory means the American No. 7 seed has now made the last eight at all four Grand Slams – Wimbledon had been the only major where she had never gone beyond the fourth round.

It was her 11th career Slam quarterfinal and 30th win of 2026, sealed with a third straight three-set victory this fortnight.

Gauff, the youngest woman to reach the quarterfinals at all four majors since Iga Swiatek, next meets fellow American and No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula.

The finish came against the clock, with the Wimbledon 11pm curfew looming, and Gauff felt every second of it. “I was looking at the clock the last service game,” she said on court. “I was like, I gotta hit some big serves and big shots. That match point, I was going for a serve and volley because I needed to end the point.”

Relief poured out – “super happy to be in the quarters finally; I don’t know how many tries it’s been” – alongside a rare admission of nerves. “This was probably the most dramatic finish. I’ve never had to race against time. In tennis we’re used to not having a clock, but today I felt the pressure.” Then, with a grin: “I’m glad I didn’t choose basketball.”