Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka beat 19-year-old Coco Gauff in straight sets to enter the 2024 Australia Open final. Sabalenka won 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 on Thursday (Jan 25) in the first semifinal of women’s singles in Melbourne. She’ll face the winner of the match between Dayana Yastremska and Qinwen Zheng on Saturday (Jan 27) in the last game of her title defence. The Belarussian is the first woman to make it to the back-to-back Australian Open finals since legendary Serena Williams did it in 2016 and 2017.Â
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Sabalenka will also have the chance to become the first women’s player to successfully defend her title at Melbourne Park since Victoria Azarenka in 2013.Â
As for the match, Sabalenka said that she was prepared for the fight and ready for anything. Notably, Gauff had beaten Sabalenka for the US Open title in 2023.Â
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“I was able to focus on myself. I was prepared that she was going to move well and put all the balls back and I was just ready for anything,” the Belarussian said.
“That was the key, and the support here.”
“It’s always a great fight (against Gauff). She’s a great player and I enjoy playing her,” she added. “I really hope that in the future we are going to play many more finals,” she added.
Gauff was clearly off colours on Thursday as she made eight double faults against Sabalenka’s two. The American teen prodigy also managed only 57 percent first serve against her opponent’s 76 percent. Although, the win percent on the first serve was almost equal for both players, 65 percent for Gauff and 71 for Sabalenka.
The American, however, lagged behind in point won as she managed 68 in 10 games against Sabalenka’s 82 in 13 games. The Belarussian also edged Gauff on break points, winning four against the American’s three.
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