tennis
Coco Gauff first semi-finalist at the Australian Open
Converted her first match point after 3:08 hours: Coco Gauff. photo
© Andy Wong/AP
Tennis star Coco Gauff has to fight hard to reach the semi-finals in Melbourne. In the end, her opponent runs out of strength.
The world number four will now face defending champion Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus on Thursday. The world number two had little trouble in the 6:2, 6:3 win against Czech Barbora Krejcikova and continues to be in top form at Melbourne Park. The semifinals are a repeat of last year’s US Open final, where Gauff won in three sets. For many it is the anticipated finale.
“I’m very proud that I left everything on the pitch today. It’s always difficult against Marta,” said Gauff after the intense game in Melbourne, which was once again very hot on Tuesday.
Gauff had a lot more trouble with Kostyuk than expected. The Ukrainian started furiously in the first Grand Slam quarter-final of her career and quickly moved away to 5-1. But Gauff, who had already won the WTA tournament in Auckland before the Australian Open, fought back. The American fended off two set points and won the first round in the tiebreak.
Neither of them gave each other anything in the second set. With the score at 5:4, Gauff already served to win the match. But Kostjuk fought back and equalized the set in the tiebreak. After that, the Ukrainian ran out of strength. Gauff quickly pulled away in the deciding set and remains undefeated in 2024.