Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka beat Coco Gauff 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 to reach the final of the Australian Open.
Sabalenka gained her revenge after Gauff was victorious in last year’s US Open final and will look to be the first player to win back-to-back Australian Open titles since Victoria Azarenka in 2012 and 2013.
She will play either China’s Qinwen Zheng or Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska in the final on Saturday.
Sabalenka, who was playing in her sixth consecutive major semi-final, is yet to drop a set in Melbourne this year and will be favourite to defend her title no matter who she plays.
“I was able to focus on myself and was prepared that she was going to move really good and get all the balls back to me, so was ready to play an extra shot. I was ready for everything,” said Sabalenka.
“I enjoy playing Coco. She’s an incredible player. I really enjoy playing her. I hope in the future we play many more matches. Hopefully I win all of them!”
Sabalenka raced into a 2-0 lead as Gauff made two double faults in her first service game. However, the American fought back following a poor service game from her opponent to level things up, only for Sabalenka to move 5-2 in front after breaking for a second time in the match.
Yet again, Gauff dug in and broke back as Sabalenka fumbled when serving for the set and a tie-break was required to separate the players.
Gauff missed out on a chance to play in her first Australian Open final
Just as Sabalenka’s powerful forehand looked like it was going awry, she found her rhythm in the tie-break and comfortably took it 7-2.
Gauff survived two break points in the opening game of the second before both players raised their game and the match was quickly at 3-3.
Sabalenka could not take another break-point chance in the seventh game but broke two games later to go 5-4 up and took her second match point opportunity on serve to seal a spot in the final and become the first woman since Serena
Williams in 2016 and 2017 to reach successive finals here.
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