(Melbourne) Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka avenged her U.S. Open loss to Coco Gauff by winning in straight sets in the semifinals on Thursday, becoming the first player since Serena Williams to be able to defend her title in final of the Australian Open.
Sabalenka attacked Gauff’s serve with powerful returns and unleashed 33 winners en route to a 7-6 (2), 6-4 victory that extended her winning streak at Melbourne Park to 13 .
“I was ready for anything tonight,” Sabalenka said. I was able to focus on myself. »
She will face the Chinese Zheng Qinwen in the final on Saturday, who defeated Dayana Yastremska 6-4, 6-4.
Zheng, 12e seeded, and the Ukrainian, who is at 93e world rank, participated in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in their career. This means that the 21-year-old Chinese will participate in her first major tournament final of her career.
PHOTO LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Zheng Qinwen
Zheng lost to the Belarusian in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open last year, and it was her best Grand Slam result to date. She will appear in the final a decade after Chinese star Li Na won the Australian title.
” It’s incredible ! I’m super excited to have been able to deliver such a performance today and to be in the final,” said Zheng after the match.
For her part, Sabalenka was back in the final four in a fifth consecutive major tournament, a streak that began in Australia last year. She is the first player to reach two consecutive finals at the first Grand Slam tournament of the season since Williams in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Gauff entered the semi-finals undefeated so far in 2024, after winning the tournament in Auckland, New Zealand.
PHOTO ASANKA BRENDON RATNAYAKE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Coco Gauff
The 19-year-old American was on a 12-game winning streak at major tournaments and was trying to become the first player since Japan’s Naomi Osaka in 2020-21 to win the U.S. Open and the Australian Open successively.
She found a way to beat the Belarusian in New York in September last year to win her first major title, but she couldn’t find any fault in her rival’s game – the only one in the square of aces who had experience in the semi-finals of the Australian tournament – this time.
Sabalenka eventually converted her second match point, an ace in the middle of the court, to seal the outcome of the match after an hour and 42 minutes of play.
After the game, Sabalenka noted the presence of many legendary players in the stands, including Billie Jean King and Evonne Goolagong Cawley, who were celebrating the 50e anniversary of his conquest of the Australian Open title.
“I could never have dreamed of playing in front of you,” Sabalenka admitted. Thank you for everything you have done for our sport. It’s a privilege to play in front of you. »
In doubles, veteran Indian player Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden reached a second consecutive Grand Slam final, after defeating Chinese Zhang Zhizhen and Czech Tomas Machac 6-3, 3-6 and 7-6 (7 )
Tournament organizers noted that Bopanna and Ebden, whose combined age totals 79, will become the oldest world No. 1 duo in tennis history.
PHOTO MICHAEL ERREY, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Rajeev Ram (left) and Joe Salisbury (2e left) pose with their trophy. They beat Rohan Bopanna (2e right) and Matthew Ebden in the doubles final.
Bopanna and Ebden, who are ranked second in men’s doubles, lost to Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury in the final of the US Open in September.
In the final on Saturday, they will meet the Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori.