In the semi-finals of the Australian Open there was a top duel between Aryna Sabalenka and challenger Coco Gauff. The defending champion fended off the American’s attack and secured a place in the final. Round one was a rollercoaster of emotions.
Aryna Sabalenka’s power also led to her reaching the final of the Australian Open again. IMAGO/AAP
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka won the top duel against US Open champion Coco Gauff at the Australian Open and is aiming for her second Grand Slam title in Melbourne. The world number two from Belarus won the highly anticipated semi-final against the American on Thursday with 7:6 (7:2), 6:4.
Sabalenka converted her second match point after 1:42 hours. In the final on Saturday (9.30 a.m. CET/LIVE! on kicker) she will face either the Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska and Qinwen Zheng.
Coco is such a strong player. I look forward to more duels with her in the future.
“I just focused on myself. And was ready to have an answer to every ball,” said Sabalenka. “Coco is such a strong player. I look forward to more duels with her in the future.”
With the hard-fought victory, Sabalenka also achieved revenge for the defeat in the US Open final last year. Back then, Gauff won in three sets.
A back and forth in sentence one
Sabalenka started strong at the Rod Laver Arena and quickly moved away to 5-2. The first sentence seemed to be just a formality, but then the tide turned. Gauff came into the game better and also benefited from some minor mistakes made by the world number two. The American turned the game around, won four games in a row and suddenly had the chance to win the set when the score was 6:5 on her own serve. Now Sabalenka followed up with a counterattack and took the first set in the tiebreak after just under an hour.
In the second round, the two dominant players of the tournament continued to meet on equal terms until Sabalenka managed the decisive break to make it 5:4. Gauff fended off the first match point well, but then the Belarusian made it to the final. For the American, it was her first defeat of the year after her perfect start to the season by winning the tournament in Auckland.