“She shouldn’t get so much negative comments”: Belinda Bencic backs Coco Gauff despite serve scrutiny

Belinda Bencic offered a firm defence of Coco Gauff during media day at the Charleston Open, pushing back against growing scrutiny surrounding the American’s serve. The comments follow their recent meeting at the Miami Open, where Gauff prevailed in three sets, extending a head-to-head that has been consistently competitive despite her overall edge.

Gauff, currently ranked inside the world’s top three, has continued to deliver results in 2026. She reached the final in Miami, falling to Aryna Sabalenka, and made the quarter-finals at Indian Wells, maintaining a strong presence deep into major events. That consistency has kept her among the leading contenders on tour, even as technical discussions around her serve persist.

The criticism is grounded in measurable trends. Over the past 52 weeks, Gauff has recorded 444 double faults, the highest total on the WTA Tour, well ahead of Linda Noskova (296) and Ekaterina Alexandrova (288). Her double-fault rate stands at 10.2%, also leading the field, with Marketa Vondrousova (7.5%) and Jelena Ostapenko and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (7.3%) behind.

That pattern has carried into 2026. Gauff again leads the tour with a 10.6% double-fault rate and 134 total double faults, ahead of Victoria Mboko (102) and both Dayana Yastremska and Mirra Andreeva (82).

Bencic’s perspective is shaped by repeated encounters. Gauff leads their head-to-head 5–2, but five of their seven meetings have gone to three sets, including their most recent match in Miami. The dynamic reflects a matchup where margins are narrow and outcomes are often decided over extended exchanges.

Asked about Gauff’s game, Bencic resisted reducing the analysis to serve inconsistency. While acknowledging occasional rhythm issues, she emphasised the broader difficulty of facing a player whose movement and variation consistently disrupt patterns of play.

“She’s a tough opponent. We have some great matches every time we play, and it’s really admirable how she moves," Bencic said during her press conference at Charleston. "You definitely feel like the court is much smaller. I like to attack, of course, and she makes it really hard. She makes you replay balls. Her serve is also very tough. I know she gets a lot of comments and this and that, but her serve is very good.”

“It’s very fast when she puts it in. Of course, sometimes you can have some problems with the rhythm and everything, but I don’t think she should get so much negative comments because her game is very unique and a very different rhythm. She changes speed and spins and rhythm. She really can play everywhere in the court, and also she’s moving great. So, she’s obviously a very deserving No. 3 or No. 4 in the world.”

Her assessment points to a recurring theme among Gauff’s opponents: the challenge lies less in isolated weaknesses and more in the cumulative pressure created through defence, coverage and variation.

Bencic’s comments also come with additional context from their Miami encounter. The Swiss later revealed she had been dealing with menstrual pain during the match, an issue she addressed openly when asked whether such topics remain under-discussed in professional sport. “I don’t think it’s a taboo topic anymore, which I love. I think other female athletes have also spoke about being done hiding this topic.”

While careful not to frame it as justification for the result, Bencic acknowledged it as part of the physical reality of competition, offering a broader perspective on performance that extends beyond tactical analysis. “It’s no excuse if you lose a match, but it’s something we deal with.”

As the tour transitions to clay in Charleston, both players enter a new phase of the season with different trajectories. Gauff continues to build on a consistent start at the top level, while Bencic works to stabilise her form following her return from maternity leave. Their recent exchange, both on court and in the media, underscores a central point: performance at the elite level rarely aligns with simplified narratives.