Belinda Bencic acknowledged the ninth game of the third set was "the turning point" of her Indian Wells win against Coco Gauff and also revealed that she sensed the home favorite being tight in that faithful game and wanted to put as much pressure as possible.
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After splitting the first two sets, there wasn't much separating the two for the majority of the third set as neither player had any break points through the opening eight games of the decider.
When Gauff went 40/0 up and had three consecutive game points, the American closing out the game and opening a 5-4 lead appeared to be a sure thing. But what seemed like a very calm game, turned into drama after the No. 3 seed blew multiple game points and ended up being broken.
Bencic took the gift with both hands and didn't fail to serve for the match in the next game and complete a 3-6 6-3 6-4 win.
Bencic: I felt Gauff was more tense and I thought it was the right time to target her forehand
"Of course the game at 40-Love was the turning point. I mean, I kind of won the first point, I thought it was a good point. The second point, I went for it on the return. Then I felt like, 'okay, this is, it's possible to win this game,'" the world No. 58 recounted recounted thinking.
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"So I really, I mean, tried to be focused there and kind of hang in there. Obviously it was great to be able then to serve at the match for 5-4."
After sensing blood, Bencic wanted to test Gauff's forehand, which is seen by players as the weak area in the 21-year-old's game.
"I felt like she was more tense, so I felt like that was the right time to go for her forehand," the 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold medalist added.
In the Indian Wells quarterfinal, Bencic will meet Madison Keys.
