Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka Preview & Prediction | 2024 Australian Open | Semi-Final
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THE FACTS
When is Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka on and what time does it start? Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka will take place on Thursday 25th January, 2024 – not before 08:30 (UK)
Where is Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka taking place? Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia
What surface is Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka being played on? Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka
What channel is Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka on in the UK? Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka will be televised live on Eurosport
Where can I stream Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka in the UK? Eurosport subscribers can stream Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka live on their website
THE LOWDOWN
COCO GAUFF
World number four Coco Gauff overcame Marta Kostyuk in a really tight, scrappy quarter-final on Tuesday but the American always felt like coming through. Gauff blossomed into champion form last August to start winning ugly, on occasion, with an assured confidence on court that saw her win three titles in two months including the US Open, where she came back from a set down to beat Aryna Sabalenka. The teenager is riding a 10-match winning streak after successfully defending a WTA title for the first time in Auckland two weeks ago.
ARYNA SABALENKA
World number two Aryna Sabalenka maintained her remarkable title defence at the Australian Open with a fifth-successive straight-sets victory on Tuesday, this time ousting ninth seed Barbora Krejcikova. The 25-year-old conceded just five games to Krejcikova to bring her Melbourne total up to 16 games lost so far, with just four breaks of serve after Krejcikova took two on Tuesday. Sabalenka came back from a set down to beat Elena Rybakina here last season, claiming her maiden Grand Slam title, and she has now reached at least the semi-finals in each of her last six major campaigns.
THE PREDICTION
This should be a thrilling rematch between Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka and US Open champion, both of whom will feel that this is semi-final is the tougher test ahead of a final against an unlikely opponent. Sabalenka will be absolutely desperate to avenge her defeat to Gauff in New York last September, a match she really should have won, but Gauff has a surprisingly strong 4-2 lead in their head-to-head record that stretches back beyond her renewed vigour found last summer. Four of their six encounters have seen sets go both ways but Sabalenka did beat Gauff in straight sets at Indian Wells last March, near the peak that saw her victorious here, to suggest her current form will be enough.
Based on their respective quarter-final performances Sabalenka is the favourite here but Gauff knows how to stress the Belarussian, taking her to rallies she does not want to be a part of. The suitably cautious pick is taking Sabalenka to earn at least a set to leave the victor up to chance but current form suggests the defending champion can reach the final.
TIP: ARYNA SABALENKA TO WIN A SET
