Sabalenka Advances to Women’s Singles Final, Beating Coco Gauff

Aryna Sabalenka triumphed over Coco Gauff in a straight-set victory to advance to the final of the 2024 Australian Open. Winning 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 on Thursday, Sabalenka has earned her spot in the final for the second consecutive year, a feat last achieved by Serena Williams in 2016 and 2017. Sabalenka, the defending champion, now stands a chance to be the first woman since Victoria Azarenka in 2013 to successfully defend her title at Melbourne Park.

The match was a rematch of their previous encounter, where Gauff had defeated Sabalenka in the 2023 US Open final. Sabalenka expressed readiness for the challenge, acknowledging Gauff’s skills and resilience. “I was ready for anything,” Sabalenka stated, emphasizing her focus and preparation for Gauff’s strong defensive play.

Gauff, however, struggled with her form during the match. She recorded eight double faults compared to Sabalenka’s two and achieved a lower first serve percentage of 57% against Sabalenka’s 76%. Despite a similar win percentage on the first serve, Gauff fell short in overall points won, securing 68 points over 10 games compared to Sabalenka’s 82 points in 13 games. Sabalenka also had a slight edge in break points, securing four to Gauff’s three.

Sabalenka spoke highly of Gauff, saying, “It’s always a great fight. She’s a great player, and I enjoy playing her.” She looks forward to more finals against Gauff in the future. Sabalenka will now face either Dayana Yastremska or Qinwen Zheng in the final on Saturday, as she continues her title defense at Melbourne Park.