Coco Gauff will be marking her 21st birthday in slightly different fashion after being knocked out of Indian Wells.

The US tennis star‘s run in California came to an end with a fourth round defeat to Belinda Bencic, who claimed a 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory.

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Coco Gauff reached the semi-finals at Indian wells last year[/caption]

The result means that Gauff, who turns 21 today (March 13), will no longer be able to celebrate the landmark occasion as planned.

Speaking after her early exit, the 2023 US Open champion admitted she had hoped she would still be in contention at Indian Wells as she reached the legal drinking age in America.

Following her loss to Bencic, Gauff was asked about her birthday plans in her post-match press conference.

To this, she replied: “I don’t know.

“I mean, I don’t know if I’m going to feel any different. But, yeah, I think it’s an exciting age to turn.

“Usually I don’t really care, I guess, when my birthday is, but I am excited, and obviously I would have loved to be out here tomorrow.

“But I’m going to try to either get home tonight or tomorrow just to celebrate with my family.”

Although Gauff may not be marking the milestone quite how she had first planned, she no longer has to worry about fitting her preferred birthday activity in with her playing commitment.

Following her third-round victory over Jodie Burrage at the Australian Open in January, the American revealed an escape room would be her ideal way to celebrate.

Asked then about her upcoming 21st plans, she said: “I’ll be at Indian Wells.

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Gauff will be celebrating her 21st birthday at home after losing her two hour and 20 minute battle to Belinda Bencic[/caption]

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Swiss wildcard Bencic will now play in the quarter-finals at Indian Wells[/caption]

“I’m not really, like, a huge party person. I love escape rooms, so I’ll probably want to do an escape room.

“Yeah, I don’t know…maybe have a drink with my parents. I don’t know, probably not during the tournament.” 

While a first Indian Wells title would have been the perfect way to celebrate, Gauff has already achieved more than most at 21.

Since bursting onto the scene with her run to fourth round of Wimbledon as a 15-year-old, the world number three has continued to cement her reputation at the top of women’s tennis.

She has since won nine career titles, reaching the 2022 French Open final before clinching her first Grand Slam in 2023 with victory at the US Open.

Gauff’s New York triumph saw her reach a career-high ranking of world number two, and she has continued to make steady progress.

After teaming up with new coach Matt Daly in October 2024, the tennis star finished 2024 at the peak of her powers with victory at the WTA-1000 China Open, and the year-end WTA Finals in Riyadh.

Gauff began the year as one of the favourites for the Australian Open title after helping the USA to victory in the United Cup in January.

However, she failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals, losing the eventual finalist Paolo Badosa in straight sets.

And defeat to wildcard Bencic in Indian Wells means Gauff’s quest for a first individual title in 2025 will continue beyond this week.

She now turns her attention to next week’s Miami Open, where she will be looking to replicate her 2023 heroics which saw her triumph at the home tournament.