Aryna Sabalenka gained revenge on Coco Gauff for her US Open final defeat by blasting the American out of the Australian Open. And the Belarusian world No. 2 is now the red-hot favourite to retain her title after returning to the final in Melbourne.
Big-hitting Sabalenka hit 33 winners on her way to a 7-6 6-4 win in the Rod Laver Arena in a clash of the last two Major champions left in the women’s draw. She is the first woman since Serena Williams (2016-17) to reach back-to-back Australian Open finals.
And she will face the winner of the second semi-final between China’s No. 12 seed Qinwen Zheng and Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska. Gauff had won her last 12 Grand Slam matches while defending champion Sabalenka had not lost here in 12.
Something had to give and the Belarusian has now reached her third Grand Slam final without dropping a set. She said: “I think I was able to focus on myself. I was prepared that she was prepared to run and get all the balls back to me. I had to be ready to play an extra shot. That was the key tonight.”
Speaking to the crowd in the Rod Laver Arena, she added: “The last time I played her (in New York) I didn’t have almost any support so thank you guys very much. I appreciate all the support and the atmosphere. You make this place really special for me.”
The semi-final was watched by Billie Jean King and Evonne Goolagong Cawley. “It is a privilege to play in front of you,” said the Belarusian. “Thank you for what you have done for our sport.”
Sabalenka started like she meant business with an ace and won eight of the first nine points to lead 2-0 – the first of six breaks of serve in the rollercoaster opening set.
Gauff immediately broke back and served five doubles faults in her opening three service games to trail 2-4. Sabalenak served for the set at 5-3 but was broken for a second time when she slapped a forehand into the net to concede four games in a match for the first time in the tournament. In her first five matches, she had dropped only 16 games.
Gauff saved a set point at 4-5 with a huge serve – and then broke the Belarusian to lead 6-5 after the defending champion hooked a horrible forehand off a short ball into the tramlines.
But then the American could not serve out the set – and Sabalenka raised into a 4-0 lead in the tiebreak before taking her third set point after 56 minutes with a 168kmh first serve out wide which Gauff could not return. Sabalenka won the first set in New York in September before a stirring Gauff fightback in front of her home crowd. There was to be no repeat Down Under.
Sabalenka missed two break points in the opening game of the second set – the first off a simple backhand volley – before 14 consecutive points on serve.
But at 4-4, Sabalenka took her fourth break point of the set when a Gauff backhand crosscourt sailed wide. Gauff saved a first match point with a brave forehand winner down the line before Sabalenka took her second with a service winner.
