Coco Gauff grits out victory to reach Australian Open semis amidst tough battle

Posted : 23 January 2024

Fourth-seeded Coco Gauff faced a challenging match against Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk but managed to secure a spot in the Australian Open semi-finals with a hard-fought 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (4-7), 6-2 victory.

Despite making 51 unforced errors and hitting only 17 winners, the 19-year-old American displayed resilience, fighting back from a 5-1 deficit in the first set. Gauff, the US Open champion, could not serve out the second set but maintained composure in the decisive third set, securing the win. She now awaits the winner between Aryna Sabalenka and Barbora Krejcikova in the semi-finals.

Expressing her satisfaction, Gauff commented, "I'm happy, really proud of the fight I showed. Marta is a tough opponent and always makes it hard. I really fought and left it all on the court." Gauff, who had never advanced beyond the fourth round in Melbourne before, demonstrated determination and resilience throughout the challenging three-hour contest against Kostyuk.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, who lost to Gauff in the US Open final, is set to face Czech ninth seed Barbora Krejcikova in a later quarter-final match. Sabalenka, yet to drop a set in this year's Australian Open, aims to continue her impressive performance. The women's singles draw, marked by several high-profile exits, remains open, with other quarter-finals scheduled for Wednesday.

Coco Gauff, eyeing back-to-back major victories, has showcased improved confidence and skill under the guidance of coach Brad Gilbert. Despite a less convincing performance against Kostyuk, Gauff's resilience and aggressive play in the third set allowed her to secure the win. Reflecting on her strategy, Gauff mentioned, "In the second, I gave myself opportunities but became a little bit passive, and when I came out in the third, I was just trying to play aggressive and hit through the court."

In a poignant note, Kostyuk, playing in her first major quarter-final, expressed pride in her run and highlighted the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. She shared messages from people in Kyiv, emphasizing the challenges they face amidst the conflict. Kostyuk said, "It's very exhausting to live in this state. The war is still there. It's not gone," providing a somber backdrop to her performance on the tennis court. Rewrite in Arabic:

Coco Gauff grits out victory to reach Australian Open semis amidst tough battle

Fourth-seeded Coco Gauff advances to the Australian Open semi-finals after a hard-fought three-set battle against Marta Kostyuk.

Coco Gauff grits out victory to reach Australian Open semis amidst tough battle

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics