AO 2024 Women’s Day 12

Aryna Sabalenka returned to the Australian Open on Thursday as she avenged a Grand Slam finals loss to Coco Gauff, defeating the teenager 7-6 (2), 6-4 to reach a second straight final in Melbourne.

The second seed lost the US Open final to Florida’s Gauff four months ago, with the crowd totally on the side of the local.

It was much more balanced as Sabalenka reached the Saturday title match without the loss of a set during the fortnight.

“I was able to focus on myself,” the winner said after one and three-quarter hours on court. 

“I knew she was going to return well and get every ball back. I had to be ready to play the extra shot. 

“I was ready for anything tonight.”

Sabalenka improved her record against Gauff to 3-4.

She will await a finalist from Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska and Chinese No. 1 Zheng Qinwen, playing her semi-final on the exact day a decade ago when compatriot Li Na won the title here.

Sabaenka finished off victory over gauff on her second match point, which she set up with an ace before her opponent dumped a return into the bottom of the net  

She’s an incredible player,” Sabalenka said of the American. “Win or lose, we always have great matches.

“I hope we can play many more finals.”

The opening set was a roller coaster, with Sabalenka grabbing a 5-2 lead but needing a winning tiebreaker to see out the set.

The second seed earned a second-set break for 5-4 before serving out victory.

The loss was the first for Gauff this season after 10 straight victories; ; Sabalenka stretched her Australian open win streak to 13 on the trot. 

Sabalenka is hoping to become fhe first player since Serena Williams (2016-2017) to win back-to-back finals here.