Aryna Sabalenka, after her victory in the semi-final of the Australian Open against Coco Gauff, in Melbourne, January 25, 2024. ELOISA LOPEZ / REUTERS
It was a final before its time. Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka lost to American Coco Gauff in the semi-finals of the Australian Open on Thursday January 25. The world number 2, who had not had to work so far in the competition, qualified in two tight sets (7-6, 6-4), and 1 hour 42 minutes of play. Title holder, the 25-year-old reached a Grand Slam final for the third time in her career.
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The two players had not faced each other since the US Open final, won by Coco Gauff, in September 2023. “I really wanted this revenge”declared Aryna Sabalenka, after her victory in the quarter-finals, against the Czech Barbora Krejcikova (6-2, 6-3).
The Belarusian, who said to herself “impatient” to fight it out, set the tone from the start. Aggressive very early in the exchanges, she did not let her opponent breathe, who showed responsiveness. If Coco Gauff remained impassive, without any reaction between the exchanges won and lost, Aryna Sabalenka – who was playing her sixth Grand Slam semi-final in a row – let her frustration burst after her unforced errors, which occurred most of the time during important points.
Powerful Sabalenka
In the first set, the American had difficulty serving, committing six double faults. The world number 2 took the opportunity to offer herself a tie-break, while her opponent served to win the set. In this decisive game, Coco Gauff fell, without seriousness. She gave a thumbs up, a sign that everything was okay.
The fact remains that on the court, she saw herself overwhelmed by the aggressiveness of Aryna Sabalenka. When winning the first set, however, the latter did not celebrate, probably having in mind their last confrontation, where she lost despite having won the first set.
Coco Gauff was not far from breaking at the start of the second round. In the first game, the Belarusian missed a break point, hitting a ball with her foot in frustration. Her rival resisted, shouting in rage towards her coach when saving her throw. Aryna Sabalenka dispatched her service games, while Coco Gauff was in difficulty on each of them. She gave in at 4-4, offering the second round to her opponent on a plateau. Under the eyes of Billie Jean King, six-time Wimbledon winner, Sabalenka’s power got the better of the world number 4.
Zheng ends Yastremska’s dream
In the other semi-final, Chinese Qinwen Zheng won in straight sets against Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, 93rd in the WTA rankings. Coming from the qualifications, the latter created a surprise by eliminating the Czech Marketa Vondrousova, winner of Wimbledon in 2023, in the first round, and offered herself in the round of 16 the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, former world number 1.
Qinwen Zheng and Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska after the semi-final of the Australian Open, in Melbourne, January 25, 2024. TRACEY NEARMY / REUTERS
This stage of the competition was unprecedented for the two Grand Slam players. At 21, Qinwen Zheng had never done better than a quarter-final, at the US Open 2023. And Dayana Yastremska’s best performance was a round of 16, at Wimbledon, in 2019.
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It was with a completely uninhibited game that the Ukrainian approached the meeting. Thanks to several winning backhands, she put pressure on her opponent by taking her entry serve. But the 23-year-old did not confirm this offensive, committing four double faults in a single game to give back her break in advance.
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The Chinese, seeded number 12, showed herself capable of flashes of genius, winning exchanges that she seemed to have lost. In difficulty with her forehand, Yastremska seemed hampered by abdominal pain. She called a medical timeout midway through the first set.
But the Ukrainian did not give up. She encouraged herself a lot, jumping between each point. During each second ball of the Chinese, Yastremska bet on a winning return. A strategy that was not enough. The world number 15 won in straight sets (6-4, 6-4) and qualified for the first Grand Slam final of her career. She will therefore find Aryna Sabalenka there. The two players faced each other in the quarter-finals of the US Open 2023, for a victory for the Belarusian.
