Rome, 23 Jan. (askanews) – Third career Slam semi-final for Coco Gauff who maintains her unbeaten season by scoring the tenth consecutive victory in 2024 which began with the second title in Auckland. In the quarterfinals of the Australian Open the 19 year old from Atlanta, Georgia, n.4 in the ranking and seeding, champion at the last US Open, prevailed 76(6) 67(3) 62, after a battle lasting over three hours played under a scorching sun, on the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, n.37 in the ranking, for the first time in the quarterfinals in Melbourne (and in a Slam). For Coco it is the twelfth success in a row at Major level.
“Yes, it was a battle even if I think that today was definitely a Serie C match – admitted the American in the press conference – I certainly didn’t play my best tennis but I’m really proud to have brought it home. I hope from now on I can play better. Yet when I warmed up in the pre-match I moved well, I hit well, I served well: when I entered the court and had two break points in the first game I felt that everything was going the right way. Then I honestly don’t know what happened. It just happened. I couldn’t be reactive and it was frustrating but, I repeat, I’m happy that I managed to overcome everything.” On Thursday, the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, n.2 in the ranking and seeding, as well as the reigning champion, who settled 62 63, in one hour and eleven minutes, will have to face the Czech Barbora Krejcikova, n.11 WTA and ninth seed , champion at Roland Garros 2021, who had arrived among the best eight in this tournament for the second time (she had also succeeded in 2022).