Earlier this week, Coco Gauff defeated Belinda Bencic 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2, within the fourth spherical of the 2025 China Open. Nevertheless, earlier than the match wrapped up, there was loads of drama that occurred within the second set, giving the tennis world so much to speak about.
On Wednesday, Caitlin Thompson stopped by on Serena Williams’ former coach Rennae Stubbs’ podcast to debate a number of issues, together with the drama between Gauff and Bencic.
Throughout the second set, Bencic raised her issues to the chair umpire over disturbing celebrations from Gauff’s staff. She accused Gauff of enjoying “thoughts video games.” Gauff defended her staff, saying the feedback directed towards her assist workers weren’t appreciative. This was adopted by Bencic shedding the tie break and at last shedding the match within the third set.
Stubbs shared her opinion on the scenario in her podcast. The previous coach mentioned that Bencic should not have ignited the hearth since she was forward within the match.
“Like you don’t want so as to add gasoline to anyone’s hearth, significantly somebody like Coco to love get her within the mindset to love battle and battle, which she did in that second set after which subsequently went on to win the match,” Stubbs mentioned (28:56).
In keeping with Stubbs, the added hearth was like poking a bear in Gauff as she in contrast the two-time Grand Slam champion to Serena Williams.
“So I simply suppose like, it is simply loopy that these gamers like lose their thoughts like that as a result of it is like what I used to say when folks would play towards Serena, it is like, do not poke the bear,” Stubbs mentioned.
“Like when you are going to give a participant one thing to type of deal with, like, properly, if I’ll like, fairly than interested by like I am positive Coco was in her personal head at that time, and Oh my God, am I going to lose? And properly, then she’s like, No, no, now you are disrespecting me and my staff. I’ll focus.”
Utilizing the scenario, Stubbs warned different gamers to not poke elite gamers. She added that Gauff is likely one of the well-respected gamers on the tour.
“So I might simply say anybody who’s enjoying towards the highest participant, do not poke the bear and do not poke Coco Goff, as a result of she’s normally most likely one of the vital revered gamers on tour and she or he’s not going to face for her and she or he’ll arise for herself and her staff and her staff,” Stubbs mentioned. “And so I believe that was properly finished by her and it might probably. And look, she went on to win the match.”
What Coco Gauff mentioned within the post-match convention after drama in second set?
Within the post-match convention, Coco Gauff shared her model of the occasions to make clear the drama that occurred within the second set. Gauff revealed that her staff advised her that Belinda Bencic mentioned to them, “Shut up.” This is the reason Gauff fired again at Bencic once they had been sitting on the bench.
“For me, the stadium is silent, so that you hear each groups,” Gauff mentioned. “I performed earlier rounds, each my matches I may hear the opposite groups fairly loud and clear, as a result of it’s silent. It doesn’t hassle me. I used to be telling her to be respectful. I’ve been good together with her staff off court docket. We’ve been good with one another. I simply didn’t like that remark in the direction of my staff.”
Gauff additionally mentioned that she has since spoken to Bencic and mentioned that each are entitled to have their very own opinions.
Edited by Krutik Jain