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 she will face the Chinese Zheng Qinwen on Saturday (9.30 a.m. CET/Eurosport). The world rankings 15. prevailed against the Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Jastremska 6:4, 6:4. Ten years after Li Na won the title, a Chinese woman is once again in the final in Melbourne.
“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 further duels with her in the future.” With the hard-fought victory, she also managed to take revenge for the defeat in the US Open final last year. Back then, Gauff won in three sets.
Sabalenka started strong at the Rod Laver Arena and quickly moved away to 5-2. But then Gauff improved, and at the same time the number two in the tennis world made more slight mistakes. Gauff turned the game around and suddenly served for the set at 6:5. Sabalenka countered again and took the first set in a tiebreak after just under an hour.
Published/Updated: Recommendations: 5 David Lindenfeld, Melbourne Published/Updated: Recommendations: 5 David Lindenfeld, Melbourne Published/Updated:
In the second set, the two dominant players of the tournament continued to meet on equal terms. Sabalenka made 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. It was the American’s first defeat this year. In the run-up to the Australian Open she won the tournament in Auckland.
