Coco Gauff came from behind to defeat Belinda Bencic 5-7 6-2 6-1 at the Australian Open.

Gauff dropped a set for the first time this season as Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist Bencic hit her stride with two breaks of serve, capitalising on some sloppy mistakes at the other end of the court.

But Gauff regrouped with an excellent performance in the second set, swinging the momentum in her favour as she clicked into gear with her powerful forehand.

And the 20-year-old maintained those levels in the decider, claiming the decisive break to go 3-1 up and then puncturing Bencic's serve at the next time of asking, too.

A remarkable point followed for Gauff in the final game, as she somehow stretched to two volleys at the net to thwart Bencic's lofted attempts at a pass.

Successive double faults delayed the inevitable, but when Gauff finally got her serve right, Bencic sent her return long.

Having ended Bencic's hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the first time, Gauff will now face 11th seed Paula Badosa in the last eight.

Badosa is the first Spanish woman to reach the quarter-finals at the US Open and the Australian Open in successive seasons since Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (1997-1998).

Data Debrief: Gauff among the greats

It is now nine wins to start the season for Gauff, who has become the youngest player to win her first nine WTA matches in consecutive seasons since Monica Seles in 1992 and 1993.

She has become the first female player to win their first nine seasonal matches for consecutive years since Victoria Azarenka (2012-2013).

In the 21st century, only three women have reached more grand slam quarter-finals than Gauff (seven) before turning 21 – Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters.

Indeed, since 2000, only Maria Sharapova (81) has won more major matches while aged under 21 than Gauff (64).

"It's pretty crazy to be among an insane stat line with legends," she said during her on-court interview.