Melbourne, Jan 23 – Aryna Sabalenka continued her Grand Slam dominance, securing her sixth consecutive semifinal spot at Melbourne Park.
The second seed’s relentless form saw her drop a mere 16 games in five matches, culminating in a commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory over former Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova.
Awaiting Sabalenka in the semifinals is the formidable Coco Gauff, who battled through a marathon against young Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, prevailing 7-6(6), 6-7(3), 6-2. Gauff’s resilience, reminiscent of her coach Brad Gilbert’s ‘winning ugly’ philosophy, extended her Grand Slam winning streak to an impressive 12 matches.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic, the defending champion, endured a four-hour test in the scorching Melbourne heat, eventually overcoming Taylor Fritz 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Djokovic’s victory marked his 33rd consecutive Australian Open win, equalling Monica Seles’s record, and secured his spot in a staggering 48th Grand Slam semifinal.
On the other side of the draw, rising star Jannik Sinner showcased his resilience, storming back from 1-5 in the second set tiebreak to claim victory over Andrey Rublev. Sinner’s 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-3 triumph earned him a coveted spot in his second Grand Slam semifinal, setting the stage for a showdown against Djokovic on Friday.
As the tension builds in Melbourne, the tennis world eagerly anticipates the clash between Sabalenka and Gauff in the women’s semifinal and the high-stakes battle between Djokovic and Sinner in the men’s, with both matches promising riveting action and a step closer to Grand Slam glory.
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