American tennis sensation Coco Gauff has been knocked out of the Australian Open after a thriller semifinal loss to Aryna Sabalenka.
In a rematch of their U.S. Open final in September, Sabalenka beat American fourth seed Coco Gauff 7-6(2) 6-4 making her the first player since Serena Williams in 2016 and 2017 to make back-to-back Melbourne finals.
“I think I was able to focus on myself,” Sabalenka said. “I was thinking she’s going to move really well, put all balls back to me and I had to be ready to play an extra shot.
“I was just ready for anything tonight and I think that was the key. And the support, last time I played here I didn’t have almost any support.”
“I really enjoy playing (Coco). She’s an incredible player, win or lose it’s great matches,” said Sabalenka, who fell in three sets to Gauff in the Flushing Meadows final.
“I really hope in the future we’re going to play many more finals. Of course, I hope I win them all,” she added with a laugh.
If Sabalenka wins, she’ll be the first woman to win back-to-back titles since Victoria Azarenka in 2012 and 2013.
