Aryna Sabalenka continues not to give up sets at the Australia Open and her desired revenge against Coco Gauff is already palpable

Unstoppable, Aryna Sabalenka for the second consecutive year he entered the top four in the rankings Australian Open and continues in the race towards the defense of the title won last year. The Belarusian, number two in the world and, after elimination Iga Swiatekgreat candidate to celebrate in Melbourne, he beat the Czechs 6-2, 6-3 Barbora Krejcikova and achieved an impressive record in this edition of the “big” ocean race.

The current champion reached the semi-finals without giving up any sets and became the first player to reach this stage in this way since then Serena Williams in 2016 and 2017. In that last season, the American – already pregnant with her first daughter – ended up becoming champion after overcoming the semi-finals and final in straight sets.

Sabalenka is very close to equaling that result and joining the list of 19 who have won Australia without losing a set, which includes, in addition to Serena, other great tennis players such as Margherita Corte, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Maria Sharapova AND Victoria Azarenka. And given the path he has taken so far, it doesn’t seem far-fetched to think that he will.

The superiority he demonstrated on the court is so great that in no match did he lose more than five games and in no set did he give up more than three. She defeated the German 6-0 and 6-1 Ella Seidel, coming from which; by 6-3 and 6-2 for the Czech Brenda Fruhvirtova, also deriving from the previous phase; for a double 6-0 against the Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko (28); and 6-3 and 6-2 for the American Amanda Anisimovabefore eliminating Krejcikova.

The 25-year-old Belarusian also wrote her name together with that of a living tennis legend in another particular statistic. Because she became the second tennis player of the Open Era to win her first eight singles quarterfinals at a Major Chris Evertwho won in his first 48.

The Minsk native will play her sixth consecutive semifinal in a tournament in this category. She reached the semi-finals in US Open 2022 and last year he established himself in Australia, he played the match before the final Roland Garros AND Wimbledon and lost the decisive duel in New York against the locals Coco Gauffjust his next rival in Melbourne.

The American, 19 years old and fourth favorite, did not have an easy match against the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk37th in the ranking: three hours and eight minutes were enough for her to win 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (3-7) and 6-2 and access the semi-finals of the first Slam on the calendar. first time.

“I love being able to face Coco again. After last year’s US Open final, I really wanted to get revenge,” Sabalenka said, recalling that 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 defeat to the American teenager.

He added: “It’s always great fights against Coco, they’re great fights. She moves very well. Everything you throw at her, she comes back. So you have to build the point to win it. That’s why she’s so tough.” opponent. I’m happy to play against her and I’m super excited to play in that semifinal.”

Gauff also reached the quarterfinals without losing a set, but she didn’t have an easy life against Kostyuk, one of the great surprises of the women’s team.

“I didn’t play my best tennis, but I’m very proud to have overcome the challenge. In the warm-up I felt good, nothing like what happened on the court. I don’t know what happened, I was missing something “I was far from level of other days. It was a little frustrating, but I’m happy I won. I hope I’ve gotten that bad game out of the way and can play better from now on,” the American reflected.

“Being in the semifinals of the Grand Slam is a great achievement and, at the same time, a big deal. This is something that gives me confidence when it comes to seeing myself capable of controlling my nerves in very important stages of these tournaments,” she added that she has since become the youngest player from her country to reach the semi-finals in Melbourne Mary Joe Fernandez in 1991.

Gauff – unbeaten in 2024 with a 10-0 record (Auckland won earlier in the year) – leads the history of clashes against Sabalenka 4-2. Last year, in addition to addressing Flushing Meadowsfaces were seen in the rooms Indian wells, with a 6-4, 6-0 victory for the Belarusians. Can Aryna repeat that series win to extend her surprising winning streak in Melbourne?

The protagonists of the other semi-final duel will come from the two matches that will be played on the eleventh day of the tournament. From 10am this Tuesday, the Czech Linda Noskova (50th) will face the Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska (93rd and coming from qualifying). And at 5:15 on Wednesday, the Chinese Qinwen Zheng (12th) will clash with the Russian Anna Kalinskaya (75th).