Belinda Bencic in Miami: A loss to Gauff, but her focus is already on the road ahead

Miami – arguably the most glamorous stop on the WTA Tour. It's a place where tennis meets lifestyle, and often, the past collides with the future. For Belinda Bencic, this year’s tournament in Florida felt like a small mirror of her career: so close to the absolute top of the game, with an impressive comeback, but ultimately a painful loss. The Swiss from Eastern Switzerland fell to Coco Gauff in the round of 16, with a score of 6:7, 6:4, and 2:6.

A match of two halves

If you watched the game, you’d know: the scoreline doesn’t tell the whole story. In the first set, Bencic showed exactly why she became an Olympic champion in Tokyo back in 2021. She broke Gauff early and seemed to have control. But, as has often been the case this year, it was the crucial point that slipped away from her in the tiebreak. Gauff, known for her mental strength, seized the opportunity with ice-cold precision.

Then came the second set. And with it, the old Belinda. She was chasing down every ball that came her way, putting on a defensive display worthy of the very best. It was a classic performance, one you’d expect from a group stage final – that stage of a tournament where it’s do or die, and where she traditionally raises her level. She levelled the match at 6:4, and you could feel it in the stadium: an upset was in the air.

But in the deciding set, the thread unravelled. Two early breaks proved to be the knockout blow. Against an athlete like Gauff, who serves like she’s practically at home in Miami, you simply can’t afford to give up a 0-40 lead in your own service game. At that point, even Swiss fighting spirit has its limits.

Defence wins championships – but not always against Gauff

Gauff herself said something after the match that stuck with me: “Defense wins championships”. And she’s right. Bencic proved exactly that in the second set. Her relentless movement drove Gauff to frustration. It was reminiscent of that legendary final against Ashleigh Barty, the one she won in 2019 during the group stage final of the WTA Championships. Back then, she was the hunter, chasing down every ball.

Today, despite the loss, she was exactly that: an incredibly tough opponent. The numbers speak for themselves: in rallies of nine shots or more, Bencic had a clear edge in the second set. She forced Gauff into errors the American doesn’t usually make. If she can sustain that level consistently over two hours, we’ll be seeing her in the later rounds again soon – whether against an Ekaterina Alexandrova or an Ashlyn Krueger. These players are dangerous, but they don’t bring the immense pressure of a top-five player.

Swiss precision in the details

What personally excites me almost as much as her fighting performance is the fact that Belinda Bencic isn’t just a sporting ambassador, but a cultural one for Switzerland. During the Miami tournament, she wore her iconic watch again, but there’s another detail that true connoisseurs will appreciate. Are you familiar with the Caran d'Ache Ecridor Ballpoint Pen Match Point Belinda Bencic?

• A tribute to her greatest achievements, immortalised in hexagonal, gold-plated silver.
• The engraved pattern resembles a tennis net, the design as precise as her backhand slice.
• It’s not just a writing instrument – it’s a statement. Much like Bencic’s game: elegant, powerful, and with a signature style all its own.

This detail shows how deeply Belinda is connected to her Swiss identity. She stands not only for top athletic performance but also for the legacy of brands like Caran d’Ache. In a city like Miami, where glamour can often be superficial, she brings this grounded precision onto the court.

Looking ahead

Now, it’s time to dust off, pack the bags, and focus on the coming weeks. Miami was just a pit stop. For me, it’s clear: Bencic is on the right track. The phases where she plays her best tennis are getting longer, the dips shorter. Losing to Gauff is nothing to be ashamed of – it was a high-level battle between equals.

I’m curious to see how things progress. Summer is approaching, the grass court season is just around the corner. And if Belinda keeps this up, we’ll be in for many more three-set thrillers this year – only this time, her name might be on the winner’s list at the end. After all, we all know: when the finals roll around, when it’s about the really big titles, that’s when Belinda Bencic is in her element.