Aryna Sabalenka avenges US Open loss to Coco Gauff in powerful Australian Open final return

It’s going to take a special performance to keep Aryna Sabalenka from repeating as Australian Open champion.

On Thursday, the world No. 2 became the first woman to reach back-to-back finals at the Melbourne major since Serena Williams in 2017. Meeting fourth-ranked Coco Gauff in a rematch of the 2023 US Open final, Sabalenka found the revenge she was looking for in a 7-6 (2), 6-4 victory, halting the American’s 10-0 start to the year.

"I was prepared that she was gonna move really good, put all balls back to me and I just have to be ready to play an extra shot," Sabalenka told Jelena Dokic on court.

"I was just ready for anything tonight. I think that was the key."

The 25-year-old is yet to drop a set in her six victories over the fortnight. Her win over Gauff was by far her most testing of her contests—but was an important battle-hardening encounter that should serve her well Saturday after putting aside disappointments like a 5-2 lead going up in smoke and botched finishes at the net to eventually cross the finish line first.

Gauff struggled to hit the kick on her second serve throughout the clash, with the bulk of her eight double faults landing long. But her resolve and defensive wheels kept the 19-year-old in the hunt after it initially appeared the reigning champion would race away with the first set under a closed roof inside Rod Laver Arena.

Having saved a set point in the 10^th game by jamming her opponent with a booming body serve, Gauff soon reeled off four consecutive games—partially aided by Sabalenka’s miscues in the front half of the court—and served for the set in a surprising turn of events.

Sabalenka masterfully reset, returning to an earlier ploy in going toe-to-toe with Gauff’s forehand. It resulted in breaking back from 30-0 down and the momentum was firmly in hand when she stormed out to a 5-1 lead in the tie-break and clubbed three forehand winners en route to grabbing the 56-minute set.

After Gauff staved off two break points to open the second set, it ignited a swing of the server winning 20 consecutive points. From 3-3, both recovered from 0-30 deficits—Gauff needing to stave off a break point.

Sabalenka kept the pressure coming, her backhand creating another break chance. Gauff wiped it away with her own backhand brilliance, but couldn't replicate it two points later when she framed a crosscourt shot off that wing.

"I wish I could have made more first serves. I think that was the difference," Gauff assessed in her press conference. "She had a higher first-serve percentage, and it's tough to also go for the second when you double-faulted a couple times.

"US Open I felt like [it] wasn't a great match for me. Yes, I won. I think I played better tonight."

Fighting until the end, Gauff erased a match point with a forehand winner to end a 12-shot rally. But Sabalenka would not be denied, uncorking a clutch ace and another well-placed first serve to close out the hard-fought win.

After opening the match by losing her first three trips to the net, Sabalenka found an 11 for 17 success rate. From her side of the court, it was that brand of tennis that helped turn the tables in the latest installment of their rivalry.

"I think in New York I played a little bit passive tennis. I didn't put so much pressure her. I did in the first set, but then I kind of, like, slowed down and start just trying to play rallies with her, which is not working well," Sabalenka told press.

"The whole preseason I was working on those approach shots, on coming to the net and finish the point on the net. I'm super happy that I was able to do that on court today, and I think that's the difference between these two matches.

Sabalenka awaits a first-time major finalist: the winner of qualifier Dayana Yastremska and No. 12 seed Zheng Qinwen.