Coco Gauff showcased her resilience by battling from a set down to defeat Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, securing her spot in the Australian Open quarter-finals. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka also cruised into the last eight, defeating 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva 6-1, 6-2 in a commanding performance.
Gauff’s Grit in Melbourne Heat
In the hottest day of the tournament so far, with temperatures reaching 34°C, Gauff extended her winning streak to 11 matches. Despite a shaky start, the 20-year-old American adapted and took control in the latter stages:
- First Set: Gauff struggled with her serve, committing two double faults that handed Bencic the break and the set.
- Second and Third Sets: Gauff found her rhythm, attacking aggressively and forcing Bencic to fade under the intense heat. A hard-fought hold in the third set’s opening game set the tone for her dominance.
Reflecting on her performance, Gauff said:
“Maybe a couple of years ago, if I lost the first set I might lose the match. I just played more aggressively and put myself in a position to feel proud of my fight.”
Gauff now faces 11th seed Paula Badosa, who overcame Serbia’s Olga Danilovic 6-1, 7-6 (7-2), in the quarter-finals.
Sabalenka’s Domination Continues
Belarusian top seed Aryna Sabalenka delivered a clinical performance against Mirra Andreeva, winning in just 62 minutes to extend her winning streak at Melbourne Park to 18 matches.
- First Set: Sabalenka broke twice and sealed the set in 24 minutes with a powerful backhand.
- Second Set: Andreeva earned three break points but couldn’t capitalize as Sabalenka saved each one and cruised to victory.
Sabalenka praised her opponent:
“Mirra is so young, so mature, and such a great player. I’m super happy with my level today.”
The two-time defending champion aims to become the first woman since Martina Hingis (1997-1999) to win three consecutive Australian Open titles. She will face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who defeated Donna Vekic 7-6 (7-0), 6-0, in the quarter-finals.
Potential Semi-Final Showdown
Should Gauff and Sabalenka win their respective quarter-final matches, they will meet in the semi-finals, setting up a highly anticipated clash between two of the tournament’s standout players.
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