Aryna Sabalenka was hailed as “a tigress defending her lair” as she gained revenge on Coco Gauff to return to the Australian Open final. And the Belarusian is the hot favourite to retain her title on Saturday against China’s Zheng Qinwen.
The American had beaten Sabalenka in their last meeting in front of a vocal New York crowd in the US Open final. But back on her favourite court in the Rod Laver Arena, big-hitting Sabalenka smote 33 winners on her way to a 7-6 6-4 victory in a clash of the only two Major champions left in the tournament.
The world No. 2 is back in the final without dropping a set after racking up her 13th consecutive win here. “She’s been like a tigress defending her lair,” said former British No. 1 Sam Smith. Sabalenka, who has the tattoo of a tiger on her left arm, thanked the Aussie crowd after reaching her third Grand Slam final.
“The last time I played her, I didn’t have almost any support so thank you guys very much,” she said. “I appreciate all the support and the atmosphere. You make this place really special for me.” She later added: “At the US Open they were crazy. It’s motivation, but sometimes it’s getting really annoying because they scream during the point.
“And I totally understand that. Today I knew that probably people will be supporting me more than her, and it was really nice to feel the kind of support she had at the US Open.”
On her 2018 debut here, Sabalenka was mocked by the Aussie crowd for her grunting but last year’s champion has since won them over. Summer Melbourne rain saw the roof on the Rod Laver Arena closed and the noise made by the world No. 2 seemed even louder.
The last woman to retain the title here was her equally loud fellow Belarusian Victoria Azarenka in 2013.
Asked if it was a distraction, world No. 4 Gauff said: “I don’t think so. I feel like at least with her it’s consistent, so it doesn’t bother me. I’ve played a player in the past where the grunt wasn’t consistent where they would grunt longer on purpose on 30-All or deuce point. If it’s consistent, I can’t really say anything about it.”
A rollercoaster first set saw six breaks of serve and Sabalenka attacked the Gauff second serve all match. “I wish I could have made more first serves,” she said.
“I think that was the difference.” Gauff had extended her Grand Slam winning streak to 12 matches by reaching her first semi-final here in her last Major as a teenager.
“I am really proud of myself,” she said. “I did want to win a Slam as a teenager, and I did that. Obviously today I was hoping to at least give myself a chance to get No. 2. It didn’t happen, but I feel like I’m there. So hopefully I can go only upwards from here.”
World No. 15 Zheng ended the “mission” of Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska 6-4 6-4. The world No. 93 needed a medical timeout at 4-3 in the first set – and again after the first set – for an abdominal injury.
The No. 12 seed, who beat Katie Boulter in the second round, has reached her first Grand Slam final without facing a player ranked in the top 50. “It feels unbelievable,” Zheng said.