Australian Open: Aryna Sabalenka 'fought a few demons' in Coco Gauff semi-final win, says Barbara Schett
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ByOli Gent
Published 25/01/2024 at 12:28 GMT
Eurosport expert Barbara Schett felt that defending champion Aryna Sabalenka “fought a few demons” during her Australian Open semi-final victory over Coco Gauff. The Belarusian world No. 2 came past the fourth seed 7-6(2) 6-4 to book her place in Saturday's final. Sabalenka has not dropped a set en route to her second consecutive final in Melbourne.
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Aryna Sabalenka “fought a few demons” during her Australian semi-final win over Coco Gauff, reckoned Eurosport's Barbara Schett.
The Belarusian got past her American opponent 7-6(2) 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena, advancing to her second consecutive final at Melbourne Park after she defeated Elena Rybakina in three sets last year.
The world No. 2 asserted her dominance with her powerful groundstrokes, stepping in to the court to often force Gauff backwards.
Gauff, the 19-year-old world No. 4, struggled on her serve throughout, hitting eight double faults and facing ten break points - four of which Sabalenka took.
Schett, courtside for Eurosport, was mightily impressed by Sabalenka’s performance, particularly when the contest looked tense in the latter stages of both sets.
“[It was a] very impressive performance by Aryna Sabalenka,” Schett said.
“The conditions are a bit cooler and you think that [they might be] a little bit slower, but the power in which [Sabalenka] hits her shots, especially in that second set towards the end where it was getting tight.
“She stuck to her gameplan; fought a few demons. She was getting a little bit nervous towards the end of the first set serving that one out and also in the second set. She really impressed me so much.
“I don’t think she loves playing against Coco Gauff, like she said, but she’s done an amazing job.”
Mats Wilander and Tim Henman in the Eurosport Cube were equally as awed by Sabalenka’s ruthless display.
“The score is closer than the match actually was,” Wilander said.
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'She impressed me so much' - Experts react to Sabalenka victory over Gauff in semi-final
“That’s Coco Gauff; she fights so hard. When you lose your rhythm, Coco is going to be there. She gets to everything, she has a lot of variety. She moves extremely well.
“But in the tie-breaker, Sabalenka was a little bit too good. She’s very clear in her gameplan. It’s very similar to what happened to Alexander Zverev.
“When you get such a good start, [you might be in] a tiebreaker, but [you] should have won the first set. If she loses the breaker, it’s a completely different match. But I thought her gameplan was very clear and the indoor conditions really favour Aryna Sabalenka when she plays that kind of style.”
Henman, who made the fourth round at Melbourne Park three times in his playing career, agreed.
“In the biggest moments in the first set, Sabalenka with her power from the back of the court stamped her authority to take that tie-break,” Henman explained.
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Sabalenka roars as she goes a break ahead in the first set against Gauff
“[She] got that first set under [her] belt that could have gone either way. Gauff was up 6-5 30-0 serving, a hugely important first set. She then got the momentum, and kept going for her shots. She deserved to come out on top.”
Wilander, himself a three-time Australian Open champion, identified the Gauff serve as the American’s real downfall.
“Was it nearly inevitable that it was going to happen at some point?” Wilander asked rhetorically.
“The second serve of Gauff is obviously not a great second serve. On the other hand, it can’t be easy to serve to Sabalenka because where do you serve?
“She can hit winners with the forehand and backhand, she’s so tall. Unless you go really hard with your second serve. It was very clear, the gameplan, and it paid off towards the end of the match.”
Wilander also suggested that the world No. 4 seeks some further serving guidance from a familiar face.
“[I’d advise Coco to] spend more time with Andy Roddick to get her serve in shape,” the Swede Wilander said.
“We know she’s serving harder and the first serve is better, even though her percentage was 50%, which is not enough.
“She needs to get her right elbow up a bit; she seems to fall down a bit too much. Toss straighter up. That’s what Andy Roddick was famous for. That’s going to solve so many problems when she has a consistent second serve.
“It’s going to make her first serve better and it’ll make her feel like she doesn’t have to go for aces all the time either.”
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