Sabalenka storms past Gauff into Australian Open final

FE Team | Published: January 25, 2024 23:19:46

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka reacts on a point against USA's Coco Gauff during their women's singles semi-final match on day 12 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Thursday — AFP

MELBOURNE, Jan 25 (AFP): Formidable world number two Aryna Sabalenka blasted past Coco Gauff into the Australian Open final on Thursday to keep her title defence on track.
The Belarusian tamed the fourth seed 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 in one hour and 42 minutes on Rod Laver Arena to avenge her defeat by the American teenager in last year's US Open final.
She will play either Chinese 12th seed Zheng Qinwen or Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska in Saturday's final.
By beating Gauff, the 25-year-old became the first player since Serena Williams in 2016 and 2017 to reach back-to-back Australian Open finals.
No-one since Victoria Azarenka in 2013 has mounted a successful women's title defence at Melbourne Park.
Sabalenka said ahead of the match that she was motivated by revenge after the 19-year-old beat her in three sets at Flushing Meadows.
But it proved to be her toughest assignment at the tournament so far, having dropped just 16 games leading into the clash.