Mertens beats Gauff for first time in six meetings to make Beijing quarters

Elise Mertens, the No. 13 seed, defeated No. 3 seed Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-3 in the fourth round of the China Open on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, to reach her first Beijing quarterfinal in her seventh appearance at the tournament. It was Mertens' first victory over Gauff in six meetings, having previously lost all five encounters. Mertens will now compete in the quarterfinals after overcoming a 0-5 head-to-head deficit against the American.