Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka secured her spot in the Australian Open finals after defeating Coco Gauff in a straight-set semifinal match on Thursday. Sabalenka's victory not only avenged her previous loss to Gauff at the U.S. Open but also made her the first woman since Serena Williams to reach consecutive finals at the Australian Open.
Sabalenka displayed her powerful returns, particularly targeting Gauff's serve, and recorded an impressive 33 winners in the match. Her aggressive playing style and ability to maintain focus proved to be instrumental in her success.
Looking ahead to the championship decider on Saturday, Sabalenka will face either Zheng Qinwen or Dayana Yastremska. This will be a significant moment for both Zheng and Yastremska as they are playing in their first-ever Grand Slam semifinal.
This marks the fifth consecutive major in which Sabalenka has reached the semifinals, with her journey beginning at last year's Australian Open. Her consistent performances have positioned her alongside tennis greats like Serena Williams, who achieved the same feat from 2015 to 2017.
On the other hand, Gauff arrived at the semifinal unbeaten in 2024, having previously clinched a title in Auckland, New Zealand. The 19-year-old American aimed to become the first player since Naomi Osaka in 2020-2021 to win both the U.S. Open and Australian Open titles back to back. However, her 12-match winning streak in majors came to an end as she struggled to find answers against Sabalenka, the only semifinalist with previous experience in Australia.
The first set was filled with six service breaks as both players missed opportunities to serve it out. Sabalenka initially took a 5-2 lead but failed to convert a set point, allowing Gauff to make a comeback and take a 6-5 lead. However, Gauff also faltered, struggling to handle Sabalenka's powerful returns. In the tiebreaker, Sabalenka quickly raced to a 5-1 lead and eventually claimed the set.
Gauff faced difficulties on her second serves, winning points on just three out of 17 attempts in the first set, leading to six double-faults. The second set remained closely contested until Sabalenka secured a vital service break in the ninth game. Despite Gauff's efforts to stay in the match, Sabalenka maintained her composure and closed out the victory after 1 hour and 42 minutes.
After the match, Sabalenka expressed her gratitude to the tennis legends in the crowd, including Billie Jean King and Evonne Goolagong Cawley, who was celebrating the 50th anniversary of her first Australian Open title. Sabalenka described it as a privilege to play in front of these esteemed figures and even signed a towel during her post-match interview, which will be auctioned with proceeds going towards supporting children and women affected by domestic violence.
In the men's doubles, 43-year-old Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden secured their place in the finals for a second consecutive Grand Slam tournament. Their thrilling victory over Zhang Zhizhen and Tomas Machac in a tough three-set match propelled them to the pinnacle of the sport. Interestingly, Bopanna and Ebden, with a combined age of 79 years, will become the oldest No. 1 pairing in tennis history following the conclusion of the tournament. They had previously reached the U.S. Open final last September, but unfortunately fell short.
In the upcoming final, Bopanna and Ebden will face off against the Italian duo of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, as they vie for the coveted doubles title.
As the Australian Open continues to unfold, fans and tennis enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the highly anticipated women's finals and the exciting conclusion of the men's doubles tournament. With players like Aryna Sabalenka showcasing their talent on the court, the tournament promises to deliver unforgettable moments of tennis excellence.
