World No. 2 defending champ Sabalenka says sharp focus and preparation helped beat Gauff in semis; to face Zheng in final
Aryna Sabalenka celebrates a point against Coco Gauff in Melbourne yesterday. Pic/Getty Images
Formidable World No. 2 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 Chinese 12th seed Zheng Qinwen, who defeated Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska 6-4, 6-4, in Saturday’s final.
ADVERTISEMENT
Coco Gauff
Back-to-back finals in Oz
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.
Also Read: Brothers Sarfaraz, Musheer score tons in different events
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.
Zheng Qinwen
‘Gauff’s a great player’
“I was able to focus on myself. I was prepared that she was going to move well and put all the balls back and I was just ready for anything,” she said.
“That was the key, and the support here. It’s always a great fight [against Gauff]. She’s a great player and I enjoy playing her,” she added. “I really hope that in the future we are going to play many more finals.”
With the roof closed due to rain, Sabalenka raced through her opening serve to love then promptly broke Gauff.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
