Melbourne, Jan 19 (Reporter) Third seed Coco Gauff and 11th seed Paula Badosa secured thrilling victories on Sunday to set up a blockbuster quarterfinal clash in women's singles at the Australian Open 2025. Gauff displayed her trademark grit in a gruelling three-set battle against Switzerland's Belinda Bencic, prevailing 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 under the scorching heat of Melbourne. Meanwhile, Badosa overcame a stern challenge from Serbian Olga Danilovic to advance with a 6-1, 7-6(2) win. Gauff, who extended her unbeaten start to the season to nine matches, credited her fighting spirit for the comeback. "There’s still a lot to accomplish, but I’m proud of how I performed," the American said. Reflecting on her growth, she added, "A few years ago, I struggled after losing the first set. Now, I dig deeper and focus on giving my best every day." Bencic, who returned to competitive tennis just six events ago after giving birth to her daughter Bella, showcased commendable resilience. The Tokyo 2020 gold medallist stunned Jelena Ostapenko and Naomi Osaka earlier in the tournament but succumbed to physical fatigue in the decider against Gauff. In the other encounter, Spain’s Badosa battled nerves and an aggressive challenge from Danilovic, recovering from a 2-5 deficit in the second set. "This has always been my favourite Slam, but I had never made it to the final rounds. It feels incredible to finally be here," an emotional Badosa said post-match. The quarterfinal showdown between Gauff and Badosa promises a clash of athleticism and power, as both players aim to keep their title hopes alive...////...