Australian Open 2024: Defending Champ Sabalenka Cruises to Semis

Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champion, delivered a powerful performance on Tuesday, January 23, securing a decisive win over ninth seed Barbora Krejcikova in the Australian Open. This victory propels her into an exciting semi-final matchup against Coco Gauff.

Ranked world number two, Sabalenka showcased her dominance with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph on Rod Laver Arena. This marked her sixth consecutive appearance in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam event.

Sabalenka now faces Gauff, a rematch of last year’s US Open final, where the young American emerged victorious in three sets. Having been the favored player at Flushing Meadows and subsequently defeated, Sabalenka is determined to prove her continued prowess in the sport.

Currently in formidable form, having lost only 16 games at Melbourne Park, Sabalenka poses a significant challenge to Gauff, potentially positioning the latter as the underdog once again. “I played really great tennis, I just hope I can keep playing this way,” Sabalenka stated, attributing her success partly to the supportive atmosphere at the tournament.

The Belarusian athlete, known for her consistency in Grand Slam quarter-finals, credits her recent performance to diligent effort. “A lot of hard work. I have been working so hard this last year and in pre-season. It’s all about hard work, give it all in the practice court so you are ready for the match,” she commented.

Sabalenka quickly established dominance in the match against Krejcikova, the 2021 French Open champion, breaking her opponent’s serve early and maintaining control throughout. The first set concluded in her favor in just 33 minutes.

Krejcikova, who had a challenging path to the quarter-finals, often recovering from initial set losses, could not mount a comeback against Sabalenka’s peak form and formidable groundstrokes.

In the second set, Sabalenka continued her relentless pace, breaking in both the third and fifth games. Despite a brief rally from the Czech player, it was insufficient to alter the course of the match, and Sabalenka secured her spot in the next round convincingly.