Sabalenka Storms Into Australian Open Final, Setting Up Potential History
MELBOURNE, Australia — Aryna Sabalenka took a big step towards retaining her Australian Open crown by beating American fourth seed Coco Gauff 7-6(2) 6-4 in a thriller on Thursday to reach the final where she will meet Zheng Qinwen or qualifier Dayana Yastremska.
In a rematch of their U.S. Open final in September, the two reigning hardcourt Grand Slam champions made contrasting starts as Belarusian Sabalenka fired an ace and revved up her forehand to hold before pouncing on two double faults by Gauff to break.
A Clash of Champions
But what followed was an intense contest between two players hoping to forge ahead and win their second Grand Slam title, and it was Sabalenka who held firm to become the first player since Serena Williams in 2016 and 2017 to make back-to-back Melbourne finals.
“I think I was able to focus on myself,” Sabalenka said. “I was thinking she’s going to move really well, put all balls back to me and I had to be ready to play an extra shot.
“I was just ready for anything tonight and I think that was the key. And the support, last time I played here I didn’t have almost any support.”
Gauff hit back right away and the pair swapped breaks again but the 19-year-old New York champion continued to teeter on her serve, allowing Sabalenka to settle her nerves after going 6-5 down in a frantic spell to clinch the first set in a tiebreak.
A Battle of Grit and Determination
The pair were locked together until 4-4 in the second set as Sabalenka countered Gauff’s speed with power and the 25-year-old second seed edged ahead with a decisive break when the teenager hit a shot long before sealing victory with two massive serves.
“I really enjoy playing (Coco) she’s an incredible player, win or lose it’s great matches,” said Sabalenka, who fell in three sets to Gauff in the Flushing Meadows final.
“I really hope in the future we’re going to play many more finals. Of course, I hope I win them all,” she added with a laugh.
On the Verge of History
Sabalenka will set her sights on becoming the first woman to win consecutive Australian Open titles since compatriot Victoria Azarenka in 2012 and 2013.
With her aggressive style of play and unwavering determination, Sabalenka has emerged as a formidable force on the WTA Tour, and she will be a strong contender for the title in the upcoming final.
The Belarusian’s victory marks a significant milestone in her career, as she aims to become the first woman to win consecutive Australian Open titles since her compatriot Victoria Azarenka achieved the feat in 2012 and 2013. With her aggressive style of play and unwavering determination, Sabalenka has emerged as a formidable force on the WTA Tour, and she will be a strong contender for the title in the upcoming final.
Whether she can achieve this historic feat remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: Sabalenka is a player to watch in the years to come.
Don’t miss the thrilling conclusion to the Australian Open! Tune in to watch Aryna Sabalenka’s quest for history as she takes on either Zheng Qinwen or Dayana Yastremska in the final.