Indian Wells (United States) (AFP) – Belinda Bencic upset world number three Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday to reach her first WTA 1000 quarter-final since becoming a mother last year. Switzerland’s Bencic, whose strong comeback year has included a fourth-round run at the Australian Open, dominated after losing the first set. The 28-year-old former world number four did not face a break point after the opening set and kept the pressure on Gauff, who struggled with her forehand after her aggressive start to the game.
It was a loose forehand return which handed Bencic the crucial second break point at 4-4 in the third set and she confidently served out to set up a last-eight meeting with either in-form American Madison Keys or Croatian Donna Vekic.
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American Ben Shelton triumphed in his all-American clash with compatriot Brandon Nakashima 7-6 (8/6), 6-1 to advance to his third ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final. Shelton, 22, becomes the youngest American man in the last eight at Indian Wells since Andy Roddick in 2004. Shelton was two points away from losing the first set when he was 6-6 in the tie-break, but Nakashima missed a backhand volley and then found the net. From then on it was all Shelton as he sealed the win in one hour and 34 minutes.
“For me the second set was outstanding. Whenever you can get a two-break win in a set against a server like him is really encouraging for where my level is at,” Shelton said. “I am pleased with my performance today. I think there are things I am trying to add into my game each week and I am trying to implement them this week.”
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