Elise Mertens defeats Coco Gauff in China Open fourth round – a historic upset

In a surprising turn of events at the 2026 China Open, Belgian Elise Mertens toppled American star Coco Gauff 6‑3, 6‑3 in the fourth round on Wednesday, October 7. The victory marked Mertens’ first career win over Gauff, who had prevailed in their previous five WTA Tour encounters, and propelled the Belgian into her maiden quarter‑final at the tournament.

Match highlights and key statistics

Mertens broke serve early in both sets and maintained composure despite Gauff’s occasional flashes of brilliance. The Belgian’s serve was particularly effective, landing 60 % of first serves and winning 80 % of those points, compared with Gauff’s 52 % first‑serve percentage and 61 % win rate on those serves.

The following table summarises the essential match stats:

Coco Gauff vs Elise Mertens – Match stats

Mertens’ post‑match reaction and dedication

After securing the win, Mertens spoke openly about the emotional significance of the triumph.

“I mean, she’s an incredible player, of course, I knew it was going to be a very tough match, but you know, I had a motivation, because my coach/boyfriend, it’s his birthday tomorrow, so for me, this win is dedicated to him and all the work we do,” said Mertens.

She added that the atmosphere in Beijing was “amazing” and thanked the crowd for their support, noting that the energy helped her stay focused throughout the contest.

Gauff’s recent form and China Open history

Prior to the match, Coco Gauff had been a dominant force at the China Open, having captured the title in 2024 and reaching the semi‑finals in 2023 and 2025. Her loss to Mertens ended a streak of never falling before the semi‑finals at the event.

As of the latest WTA information (mid‑2025), Gauff remains inside the world’s top five players, having added the 2024 Wuhan Open title to her résumé and consistently delivering deep runs at Premier‑level tournaments. Her physical condition appeared to be a factor in the encounter, with a high unforced‑error count (34) indicating occasional lapses in consistency.

Looking ahead: Mertens quarter‑final clash with Iga Swiatek

With Gauff now turning her attention to the upcoming Wuhan Open (where she is the defending champion), Elise Mertens prepares for a quarter‑final showdown against former China Open champion Iga Swiatek. Swiatek defeated Iva Jovic 6‑1, 6‑3 earlier on Wednesday to seal her place in the last eight.

The Belgian leads the head‑to‑head against Swiatek 0‑2, but Mertens expressed confidence that the match could be a “great opportunity” to test her game against a top‑tier opponent. A win would send her into the semi‑finals and set up a potential encounter with one of the qualifiers from the opposite half of the draw (Alina Charaeva, Qinwen Zheng, Ann Li, or Elina Svitolina).

What this means for the WTA tour and upcoming Wuhan Open

Mertens’ upset victory adds another intriguing chapter to the 2026 WTA season, highlighting the depth of talent capable of challenging the sport’s elite. For Coco Gauff, the loss serves as a reminder that even the highest‑ranked players can be vulnerable when not at their physical best, yet her immediate focus shifts to defending her Wuhan Open crown—a tournament she won in 2024 by defeating Jessica Pegula in the final.

As the tour moves toward the Asian swing, fans will be watching closely to see whether Mertens can sustain her momentum against Swiatek and whether Gauff can bounce back swiftly on the hard courts of Wuhan.

All statistics and quotations are drawn from the official match report released by the WTA and the tournament’s media centre.

Sports, Tennis, WTA Tour, China Open, Elise Mertens, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Wuhan Open, Beijing, Asia Swing, WTA Rankings, Match Report, Upset Victory