Coco Gauff accused of dirty tactics as rival shouts 'shut up' in China Open row

Coco Gauff has spoken out after Belinda Bencic told her and her team to "shut up" during their China Open match. Early in the second set, former Olympic champion Bencic suddenly accused Gauff's support camp of foul play, disrupting her from the stands.

Bencic's rant continued into the changeover, during which she complained to the umpire and told Gauff that she was "too old for these mind games." No. 2 seed Gauff then battled back from a set down to win 4-6 7-6(4) 6-2.

The American was making headway on one of Bencic's service games at 3-2 in the second set when the 15th seed suddenly halted her service motion and addressed Gauff's team for cheering in the mostly-empty stadium. "Chant when the point is over," she said.

Gauff called over from the other side of the net, claiming the ball bounced a lot before her coaching camp finally spoke up and cheered her on. "But their chants are ridiculous, come on, is this under-12s or what?" the Swiss star argued.

"I treat your team with respect, you treat my team with respect. The ball was a dropshot winner," Gauff pointed out.

Bencic replied: "They can cheer after the point, not before I serve. Every time I step to the line, they cheer." She held on to win the close game and then complained to the umpire during the changeover, stopping Gauff when the 21-year-old tried to interject.

"When I go to the line ready to serve, they don't need to cheer," Bencic told the official, before addressing Gauff.

"No one is talking to you! She's talking to me, okay?" she added. "Your team is chanting! I'm too old for these mind games."

Gauff was broken in the next game, but the altercation gave her the boost she needed to pull off the comeback and win the match. She immediately broke back and then took the second set in a tiebreak before racing through the decider.

After reaching the quarter-finals, reigning champion Gauff said she didn't like Bencic's comments towards her team and accused the 28-year-old of telling them to shut up.

"Yeah, I mean, I knew she said something to my team, but I didn't know exactly what. They told me she said, Shut up. I didn't hear it, so I can only go based off of what they said," the world No. 3 explained.

"I mean, I guess she was upset about them cheering. For me, the stadium is silent, so you hear both teams. I played previous rounds, both my matches I could hear the other teams pretty loud and clear, because it is silent.

"It doesn't bother me. I was telling her to be respectful. I've been nice with her team off court. We've been nice with each other. I just didn't like that comment towards my team.

"Yeah, that was it. I mean, we moved on after that. I haven't spoken to her since. She's entitled to how she felt and I'm entitled to how I respond."

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