Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka secured her spot in the Australian Open semi-finals by defeating Barbora Krejcikova in straight sets with a scoreline of 6-2, 6-3.
This victory sets up an enticing semi-final clash against American teenager Coco Gauff, offering a rematch of their thrilling US Open final in September, where Gauff emerged victorious after trailing a set down.
Sabalenka, the 25-year-old Belarusian, showcased her dominance on Rod Laver Arena, hitting 20 winners and breaking Krejcikova’s serve six times. In contrast, Gauff faced a tougher challenge against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, managing to overcome her opponent in three sets with a score of 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (4-7), 6-2.
Gauff’s resilience secured her place in the semi-finals, even though she made 51 unforced errors. Reflecting on her performance, Gauff expressed her hope to have “got the bad match out of the way” as she aims to achieve the rare feat of winning back-to-back majors, a feat last accomplished by Naomi Osaka three years ago.
Sabalenka, on the other hand, continues to shine in Melbourne, having not dropped a set throughout the tournament and conceding only 16 games in five matches. Her efficient victory over Krejcikova in just 71 minutes positions her well for the upcoming semi-final against Gauff.
The other two quarter-finals in the women’s singles draw are set to unfold on Wednesday, featuring players such as China’s Zheng Qinwen, Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya, Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, and Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova.
One of these contenders will face either Gauff or Sabalenka in the Saturday showcase, with the potential for a new Grand Slam semi-finalist emerging from this group.
Sabalenka expressed satisfaction with her performance, stating, “I played really great tennis. I really hope that I can keep playing that way, or even better.”
With an impressive 12-match unbeaten streak in Melbourne, Sabalenka has now reached the semi-finals in her past six Grand Slam appearances, a feat not seen since Serena Williams achieved a similar run between 2014-17.
Reported By BBC Sports
