By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, January 23, 202
Slam streaks collide when Coco Gauff faces Aryna Sabalenka within the Australian Open semifinals.
US Open champion Gauff rides a 12-match main profitable streak into this rematch of the US Open ultimate.
Australian Open champion Sabalenka has rocketed by way of the draw hovering on a 12-match Melbourne Park profitable streak.
More: Gauff Conquers Kostyuk for Maiden AO Semifinal
Tennis is a numbers recreation, however Sabalenka is powered by a primal power of their rematch: revenge.
After sweeping 2021 Roland Garros singles and doubles champion Barbora Krejcikova 6-2, 6-3 to succeed in her sixth straight Slam semifinal, Sabalenka mentioned she’s in a vendetta temper vs. Gauff.
“I love it. I love it,” Sabalenka mentioned of her shot at Gauff. “After US Open, I really wanted that revenge, and, I mean, that’s a great match.
“It’s at all times nice battles in opposition to Coco, with actually nice fights. I’m completely happy to play her, and I’m tremendous excited to play that semifinal match.”
Four months ago, Gauff hit a backhand bolt sealing her maiden Grand Slam title with gripping 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 triumph over second-seeded Sabalenka in the US Open final.
A dynamic Gauff bounced back from a jittery opening set, slashing through five straight games to seize the second set and snatch a 4-0 lead in the third turning the largest Grand Slam stadium in the sport into a massive house party with more than 23,000 screaming fans relishing the ride.
This time, Gauff won’t have the pro-American crowd on her side; fans figure to be more evenly split.
Ahead of the blockbuster semifinal rematch, Sabalenka suggested she will try to be more patient constructing points knowing Gauff, the fastest woman in the game, can run down would-be winners and answer with counter-strikes.
“She’s transferring very well. Everything you do on courtroom it is coming again,” Sabalenka said of Gauff. “So you want to construct the purpose most likely couple occasions in a single level, like, to have that, not like simple shot, however, like — yeah, simple shot, you understand, to complete the purpose.
“So that’s why she’s really tough opponent. Yeah, but anyway, yeah, she’s a great player, and I’m really excited to play her.”
The second-seeded Belarusian has had a smoother path to this semifinal.
Sabalenka has not surrendered a set and dropped simply 16 complete video games turning into the primary defending champion since Serena Williams in 2016 to succeed in the AO semifinals.
In distinction, Gauff dropped 15 video games and fought off two set factors in a tense and generally sloppy 7-6(6), 6-7(3), 6-2 conquer gifted and temperamental Marta Kostyuk.
Still, two-time Auckland champion Gauff, who spit up 9 double faults and gained simply 39 p.c of her second-serve factors in opposition to Kostyuk, believes her problem-solving ability may help her subdue the generally flamable Sabalenka.
“I think for me definitely my movement,” Gauff mentioned when requested her strengths. “When my serve is on, I think my serve is a big weapon for me. Same with returns. I didn’t return that well today, but usually I do well with that.
“I feel simply my psychological power. I feel that is gotten me by way of a variety of matches, and I really feel like mentally I’m one of many strongest on the market, and I strive my greatest to reset after every level. Yeah, I feel these are my strengths that I can consider proper off the highest of my head.”
Photo credit score: Tim Clayton/Getty
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