In a thrilling display of tenacity and skill, Coco Gauff powered her way into the quarterfinals of the 2025 Madrid Open, securing a marquee matchup against rising star Mirra Andreeva. The American No. 4 seed delivered a commanding 6-4, 6-2 victory over Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic in the fourth round, marking her first time reaching the last eight in Madrid. This triumph not only showcased Gauff’s growing prowess on clay but also etched her name into the record books as one of the youngest players to achieve a rare milestone in WTA 1000 tournaments.
Gauff’s journey to the quarterfinals was anything but straightforward. Her campaign kicked off with a nail-biting three-setter against Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, where she battled back from a 6-0 first-set deficit to clinch a 0-6, 6-2, 7-5 win. Reflecting on her resilience, Gauff noted, “After a shaky start in my opening match, I showed serious grit.” Her third-round clash against compatriot Ann Li proved smoother, with Gauff rattling off six straight games to secure a 6-2, 6-3 victory. By the time she faced Bencic, a formidable opponent with whom she shares a 2-2 head-to-head record, Gauff was dialed in.
The Bencic match was a test of both strategy and nerve. Despite a competitive first set where Bencic fought back to level at 4-4, Gauff’s precision shone through. She capitalized on a missed drop shot from the Swiss to claim the set and carried that momentum into the second, striking three consecutive winners in one game to edge closer to victory. “It was a day where everything was going my way,” Gauff said, highlighting her 24 winners in the match. Bencic, fresh off a hard-fought win over Beatriz Haddad Maia, saved three match points with powerful serving, but Gauff sealed the deal with composure, wrapping up the 6-4, 6-2 win at the Estadio Arantxa Sanchez.
This victory marked a significant milestone for the 21-year-old, making her the fifth player aged 21 or under to reach at least 25 rounds of 16 at WTA 1000 events, joining legends like Martina Hingis and Maria Sharapova. It also marked her first three-match winning streak since the Australian Open earlier in 2025, a testament to her renewed focus after a challenging Middle East and Sunshine Double swing.
Awaiting Gauff in the quarterfinals is the No. 7 seed Mirra Andreeva, who celebrated the eve of her 18th birthday with a dominant 6-1, 6-4 win over qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva. Andreeva, already a two-time WTA 1000 champion in 2025 with titles in Dubai and Indian Wells, is on a five-match winning streak against Top 10 opponents. The Russian teenager’s meteoric rise mirrors Gauff’s own ascent, and their third career meeting promises to be a blockbuster. Gauff leads their head-to-head 2-0, with straight-set wins at the United Cup and Australian Open, but Andreeva’s recent form suggests a fierce battle ahead. “There’s definitely something special about Mirra, the way she composes herself on a big stage,” said Leylah Fernandez, recalling Andreeva’s poise as a 15-year-old in Madrid two years ago.
The stakes are high in this clash of the WTA’s youngest Top 30 players. Gauff, who has yet to lose to a younger opponent in her career, aims to maintain that record while chasing her first Madrid semifinal. Andreeva, meanwhile, is hungry to overturn their rivalry and add another milestone to her breakout season. Adding drama to the day, the tournament was disrupted by a widespread power outage across Spain and Portugal shortly after Gauff’s match, halting play and leaving the Caja Mágica eerily quiet.
As Gauff and Andreeva prepare to light up the clay, fans are bracing for a generational showdown that could define the future of women’s tennis. With both players blending youthful exuberance with veteran-like composure, the Madrid Open quarterfinals are set to deliver a spectacle of skill, heart, and ambition.