Coco Gauff continued her blistering start to the 2025 Australian Open, brushing aside Canadian 30th seed Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-2 to secure her spot in the fourth round. The third seed’s clinical display at Margaret Court Arena extended her remarkable streak, making it 16 consecutive sets won since the start of the year.
Gauff keeps the edge in Fernandez rematch
Coming off their one-sided encounter at December’s United Cup, where Gauff dismantled Fernandez, fans expected a more competitive showdown this time. However, the highly anticipated rematch offered little drama, as Gauff’s aggressive yet composed play overwhelmed her opponent.
Acknowledging the challenge of facing the same player twice in quick succession, Gauff noted the adjustments Fernandez made:
“I think it’s harder because she knows what to expect. She played differently than she did at the United Cup,” Gauff explained after the match. “She’s a great competitor and a great person, so I knew it would be a tough match regardless.”
Gauff takes control in key moments
The first set saw Fernandez fight valiantly to hold serve early on, saving three break points in a grueling third game. But Gauff’s persistence paid off when she earned a break at 4-3 as Fernandez sent a forehand long. From there, the American dictated play with power and precision, sealing the opening set with authority.
Any hopes of a Canadian comeback were quickly dashed in the second set. Gauff broke early to take a commanding 3-0 lead, and her relentless consistency forced Fernandez into a flurry of errors. The 20-year-old wrapped up the match in just over an hour, underlining her dominance with a near-flawless performance.
Bencic up next for Gauff
Next up for the 2023 U.S. Open champion is Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic, who advanced after Naomi Osaka retired during their third-round match due to an abdominal injury. Bencic was leading 7-6(3) at the time of Osaka’s withdrawal.
The upcoming clash promises to be a high-stakes battle, with Gauff looking to continue her pursuit of a second Grand Slam title and Bencic aiming to prove her mettle against one of the sport’s most in-form players.