Coco Gauff beats the strict 11 p.m. curfew and Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on No.1 Court to reach her first-ever Wimbledon quarterfinal in 2026.
Introduction:
American superstar Coco Gauff overcame immense pressure from both her opponent and the clock to secure a dramatic comeback victory over Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic at Wimbledon 2026. Playing under the lights on No.1 Court, the number seven seed fought back from a set down to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. The two-hour and 18-minute masterpiece concluded at exactly 10:58 p.m., just two minutes before the strict 11:00 p.m. local curfew.
With this hard-fought victory, the 22-year-old Coco Gauff breaks a historical personal barrier, reaching her first-ever Wimbledon quarterfinal. In doing so, she becomes the youngest American woman to complete the set of reaching the final eight at all four Grand Slams since Serena Williams in 2001. See also: Coco Gauff Outlasts Brave Claire Liu to Reach Last 16
Bencic Grabs the Opener under the Lights
The highly anticipated Round of 16 clash made history before a ball was even hit, marking the latest-ever start time for a match on No.1 Court. Bencic, an Olympic gold medalist known for her flat-hitting style, looked completely comfortable early on.
Coco Gauff initially raced into a commanding 3-0 lead, but her rhythm faded as her second-serve accuracy struggled. Bencic took total control, breaking Gauff’s serve twice and capitalizing on the American’s early unforced errors. The Swiss star won four straight games to snatch the opening set 4-6, leaving Gauff in a familiar fourth-round hole.
Gauff Rallies as the Clock Ticks Down
Faced with an early exit, Gauff adjusted her game plan in the second set. She began striking her groundstrokes with incredible depth and heavy top-spin, forcing Bencic behind the baseline. Gauff hit four aces and won an impressive 69 percent of her first-serve points. She broke Bencic early to capture the second set 6-3, shifting the momentum into a deciding set.
The third set turned into an absolute race against time. Knowing that hitting the 11:00 p.m. curfew would mean suspending the match until Monday, Gauff played with a sense of urgency. She broke Bencic’s serve to lead 5-4 and served for the match under extreme tension.
Gauff unleashed an aggressive serve-and-volley play on match point, forcing an error from Bencic to close out the match 6-4. Gauff advances to a highly anticipated all-American quarterfinal against world number five Jessica Pegula.
