Semi-final duel looming as Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff run hot at Australian Open
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Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff moved to within one round of a semi-final collision course at the Australian Open as the two highest-ranked players in the top half of the singles draw maintained their momentum on a warm day in Melbourne Park. On Sunday, Sabalenka extended her dominant run in Melbourne by dismantling Mirra Andreeva 6-1, 6-2. Now three wins away from becoming the first woman in 26 years to win three Australian Open titles, Sabalenka has won her last 24 sets at the tournament, a streak dating back to her three set victory over Elena Rybakina in the 2023 final.
![[Reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka crushed Mirra Andreeva in an hour.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/6c8d23ebab4cb83e0a4e2ac651d5abb101f41a0a/0_137_4111_2467/master/4111.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Sabalenka has also established a remarkable level of consistency at the grand slam tournaments, reaching the quarter-finals of the last nine grand slams she has contested. The 26-year-old Belarusian will be attempting to reach her eighth semi-final during this run.
![[Coco Gauff was stretched to three sets by Belinda Bencic in a thrilling fourth round clash.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3d63e008bed9f74ada591241767b734d6fc108f5/413_0_6195_3718/master/6195.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Gauff endured a considerably more challenging day on Rod Laver Arena as she recovered from a set down to defeat Belinda Bencic 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, ending the Swiss player’s brilliant run in her first grand slam tournament since giving birth to her daughter, Bella. Gauff has now won her first nine matches of the professional tennis season.
A round away from a rematch of last year’s semi-final, both players will next face experienced opponents who will not be overawed by the occasion. Sabalenka will line up against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the 27th seed and 2021 French Open finalist. Gauff, meanwhile, faces a tough battle against the 11th seed Paula Badosa, a former No 2, who is enjoying a resurgent year after her career had been derailed by a chronic back injury.
