China’s Zheng Qinwen performs a forehand in the course of the semifinal match on the Australian Open tennis championships, in Melbourne on January 25, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka will conflict with Chinese twelfth seed Zheng Qinwen within the Australian Open final after each girls powered to straight-sets victories within the final 4 on January 25.
World quantity two Sabalenka stored her title defence on observe by blasting previous American fourth seed Coco Gauff 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 with the roof closed on Rod Laver Arena.
Zheng then stormed into a debut championship match with a stirring 6-4, 6-4 victory over gallant Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska.
In doing so, the 21-year-old grew to become the primary Chinese finalist in Melbourne since her idol Li Na gained the title in 2014.
Zheng’s earlier finest Slam exhibiting was the quarterfinals on the US Open final 12 months, when she was simply crushed by Sabalenka of their solely earlier assembly.
The Belarusian will probably be favorite once more to assert her second main crown on Saturday in what guarantees to be a bruising showdown between two hard-hitters who generally prepare collectively.
“I was able to focus on myself,” stated Sabalenka of beating Gauff and avenging her defeat in final 12 months’s US Open final.
“I was prepared that she was going to move well and put all the balls back and I was just ready for anything. That was the key, and the support here.”
The win ensured she grew to become the primary participant since Serena Williams in 2016 and 2017 to achieve back-to-back Australian Open finals.
No one since Victoria Azarenka in 2013 has mounted a profitable girls’s title defence at Melbourne Park.
Sabalenka stated earlier than her match that she was motivated by revenge after 19-year-old Gauff’s breakthrough three-set triumph at Flushing Meadows.
But it proved to be her hardest task on the event up to now, having dropped simply 16 video games main into the conflict.
“It’s always a great fight (against Gauff). She’s a great player and I enjoy playing her,” she stated. “I really hope that in the future we are going to play many more finals.”
Positive
There have been six service breaks in an unpredictable opening set that Sabalenka led 5-2 earlier than the American got here storming again to arrange a tiebreak that the Belarusian dominated.
Gauff saved two break factors in a crunch 11-minute recreation to open the second set earlier than the match settled into a extra regular rhythm, with eight straight service holds
That all modified within the ninth recreation when Sabalenka dialled up the strain, attacking Gauff’s second serve to interrupt for 5-4 and serving out for the win.
“Tough match for me tonight, but overall a positive tournament,” stated Gauff.
“I had chances in both sets, but she played better.”
Zheng, whose exploits guarantee she is going to break into the world’s high 10 for the primary time subsequent week, was buoyed by a big Chinese contingent within the crowd.
Yastremska broke first, however 4 double faults within the subsequent recreation instantly nullified her benefit.
Zheng broke once more within the seventh recreation, after which the Ukrainian left the court docket, apparently for therapy for a abdomen situation.
She returned however did not get again on phrases.
The gamers exchanged service breaks within the second set earlier than Zheng broke to like within the seventh recreation, which in the end proved decisive.
“I’m super-excited to have such a great performance today and arrive in the final,” stated Zheng, who was lifted by assembly Li Na in Melbourne final week for the primary time.
“My opponent was playing unbelievable tennis. It is tough to explain my feelings now.”
Zheng gained her first WTA title at Palermo and adopted it up with a second in Zhengzhou on the again finish of final 12 months, whereas making the final eight on the US Open and profitable an Asian Games gold medal in a breakthrough season.
