Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka will face off once again in the semi-finals of the Australian Open. This comes after both players advanced in a thrilling day of matches in Melbourne. The two have a history, with Gauff winning the 2023 US Open final against Sabalenka.
Despite struggling in the first two sets, 19-year-old Gauff displayed her mental fortitude and ultimately prevailed in a messy and dramatic match against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk. After over three hours of play in the hot Melbourne weather, Gauff emerged victorious with a 7-6 (6), 6-7 (3), 6-2 score, securing her spot in the semi-finals.
The second seeded and defending champion, Sabalenka, impressively advanced to the semi-finals after dominating Barbora Krejcikova with a score of 6-2, 6-3. Despite a two-hour delay due to the previous matches on Rod Laver Arena, Sabalenka put on a strong performance, joining Gauff and Djokovic in surviving tough battles.
In the beginning of the first quarter-final match, Kostyuk excelled, showcasing her diverse abilities including her athleticism, precise touch, and knack for approaching the net. Despite the 21-year-old leading 5-1 and Gauff making numerous unforced errors, the American managed to make a comeback and win the first set after winning four consecutive games and narrowly winning the tie-break.
“I didn’t play well,” Gauff admitted. “I was struggling with my shots on both sides and my serves weren’t consistent. I was determined to at least win one more game. My focus was on keeping the match competitive. Even though I was down 5-1, I still fought for every point and game, knowing that they all count. Gradually, the gap in the score began to narrow.”
In the second set, the situation changed when Gauff was winning 5-3 and was close to winning before Kostyuk fought back, showing her determination and physical abilities to force a third set against a struggling Gauff. Despite feeling disappointed, the winner of the US Open quickly regained her composure and played her best tennis in the final set to claim the win.
Later, Gauff chuckled as she mentioned that she had not yet read Winning Ugly, the book written by her coach, Brad Gilbert, even though her mother had bought it when they were thinking of hiring the 62-year-old. Nevertheless, in her short career, Gauff has demonstrated her skill in achieving victories even when she is not at her peak performance.
Since the North American hard-court season began in late July, she has a record of 34-4 (89.4%) and has won all 10 of her matches so far this season. With a total of 49 wins at grand slam tournaments, the 19-year-old is now tied with Serena Williams for the second most wins by an American teenager in the Open era. The only player with more wins is Jennifer Capriati, with a total of 50.
Despite facing some challenges, Kostyuk was content with her performance and determination in the most significant match of her career. Looking ahead, she is enthusiastic for what the upcoming year holds. During the tournament, she expressed confidence in herself and her fellow Ukrainian players for bringing awareness to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. On Wednesday, her fellow countrywoman Dayana Yastremska will compete against Linda Noskova for a chance to advance to the semifinals.
Kostyuk expressed her satisfaction with the girls’ performance and hopes for future success in tournaments, particularly those with high media presence. She believes it’s important to remind people of their achievements.
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“I had a conversation with individuals from Kyiv [prior to the match]. I inquired, ‘How is everything? How are all of you doing?’ They responded, ‘We were monitoring both your score and the trajectory of missiles.’ The war is unfortunately still ongoing.”
Similar to Gauff, Sabalenka has also had a transformative year, displaying impressive stability at major tournaments. She has maintained an exceptional level of play in the beginning of this year, remaining undefeated in sets in Melbourne and preventing any opponent from winning four games in a set against her.
Krejcikova, the winner of the 2021 French Open, entered Rod Laver Arena with the potential to challenge the future 2023 champion. However, she was overpowered by Sabalenka, who once again displayed a remarkable performance of calculated and focused aggression. Sabalenka joins an elite group of only three female players in the 21st century to reach six consecutive semi-finals, alongside Serena Williams (who achieved this twice) and Capriati.
“I believe my mentality is to remain calm on the court and not make impulsive decisions,” stated Sabalenka while discussing her semi-final performance. “I just focus on each point and give my all without dwelling on my aspirations or the number of Grand Slams I want to win.”
It is undeniable that the 25-year-old has excelled among the remaining players in the women’s bracket. However, Gauff demonstrated in New York that her exceptional defense can counter Sabalenka’s formidable offense. They will have a rematch on Thursday.
Source: theguardian.com
