Mertens defeats Gauff to reach China Open quarterfinals

Elise Mertens defeated Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-3 in the China Open round of 16 on October 7 in Beijing, ending the American’s tournament and advancing to a quarterfinal against Iga Swiatek. It was Mertens’s first victory in six meetings with Gauff, who had won their previous five matches. Mertens, seeded 13th, took both sets without needing a decider. Gauff, the third seed and world No. 4, had won the Beijing title in 2024 and reached at least the semifinals in her three previous appearances at the tournament. Her 2026 campaign ended in the last 16. After the match, Gauff said she had not played well and was not moving well. She said she felt flat and needed rest. During the second set, while trailing, she told her team she had no energy, could not see the ball and felt she might pass out. She nevertheless finished the match. Gauff also said the online response after her previous match against Chinese teenager Sun Xinran had been draining. She said she turned off her phone and moved on. The criticism followed a disputed point in which Gauff requested a video review after noticing flickering advertising boards.