Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, still building on her maiden Grand Slam title in Melbourne, overpowered Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-0 to advance at the combined WTA and ATP Masters 1000 event. She will face 2022 runner-up Maria Sakkari after the seventh-ranked Greek defeated two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.
Sabalenka, ranked second in the world, roared past Gauff 6-4, 6-0, turning the tables on a player who had won three of their four prior encounters. Sabalenka was in full command of her serve, and her thunderous groundstrokes left Gauff with few options.
The Belarusian fired five aces and a total of 18 winners, closing out the match without facing a break point with three straight unreturnable serves.
She said she’s a different player than she was when she lost to Gauff in Toronto last year — and since she won her second title of the year at the Australian Open.
“I think I’m more calm on court, and I’m able to control my emotions, which help me to stay in the game no matter what, and just fight for every point,” Sabalenka said. Sabalenka will face a battle-tested opponent in Sakkari, who has been taken to three sets in all four matches this week.
Source: eNCA
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