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Coco Gauff’s Australian Open Journey Ends in Quarter-Finals
Coco Gauff’s impressive streak at the Australian Open was halted by Paula Badosa, who triumphed in the quarter-finals. Arriving in Melbourne as the favorite, Gauff had established herself as a formidable competitor, having recently secured the WTA Finals title and winning all five of her singles matches at the United Cup, including a notable victory over Iga Swiatek.
Entering the match against Badosa, the American third seed boasted an impressive 13-match winning streak. However, it was Badosa, ranked 11th, who ultimately succeeded, clinching the match with a score of 7-5, 6-4.
Badosa had previously dealt with significant back issues that led her to contemplate retirement, but she finished the previous season strongly, reaching the quarter-finals of the US Open. Her performance in Melbourne represents a new peak in her career.
“I came in today aiming to play my best, and I believe I achieved that,” Badosa remarked following her victory. “Coco started strong with incredible tennis, but I’m very proud of my performance today.”
Reflecting on her journey, Badosa stated, “Just a year ago, I was uncertain about my future in this sport due to my back problems, and now I’m competing against the top players and celebrating my place in the semi-finals. It’s an incredible turnaround.”
The match showcased a competitive first set, with both players holding serve until 5-5. Badosa then seized the opportunity to break and took a strong lead in the second set, reaching 5-2.
Although she faced challenges in closing out the match, Badosa eventually succeeded, earning a place in the semi-finals, where she will face either top seed Aryna Sabalenka or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
For Gauff, the match was a learning experience, as she acknowledged her 41 unforced errors. “Paula was playing exceptionally well. If a few moments in the first set had turned in my favor, the outcome might have been different,” she said philosophically. “While I’m disappointed, I’m not defeated. I see this as part of my growth, and I’m excited for what’s next.”
Upcoming Tournaments on Sky Sports Tennis
Looking ahead, the tennis calendar includes several exciting events:
- Upper Austria Ladies Linz (WTA 500) – January 27 to February 2
- Singapore Tennis Open (WTA 250) – January 27 to February 2, featuring Emma Raducanu
- ABN AMRO Open Rotterdam (ATP 500) – February 3 to 9, with Jack Draper competing
- Dallas Open (ATP 500) – February 3 to 9
- Delray Beach Open (ATP 250) – February 10 to 16
- IEB+ Argentina Open (ATP 250) – February 10 to 16
- Open 13 Provence (ATP 250) – February 10 to 16
- Transylvania Open (WTA 250) – February 3 to 9
- Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open (WTA 500) – February 3 to 8
- Qatar TotalEnergies Open (WTA 1000) – February 9 to 15
- Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (WTA 1000) – February 16 to 22
Source
www.skysports.com