MELBOURNE, Australia — Coco Gauff faced a challenging day at the Australian Open, as her recently adjusted forehand and serve faltered dramatically when it mattered most. On a scorching afternoon at Rod Laver Arena, Gauff struggled with an increasing number of unforced errors, double-faults, and break chances, often showing her frustration with gestures like covering her eyes or slapping her thigh. Ultimately, this led to the end of her impressive 13-match winning streak from the previous season, as she was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Spain’s No. 11 seed, Paula Badosa, with a score of 7-5, 6-4.
Entering the tournament with aspirations of securing her second Grand Slam title, Gauff had implemented some changes to her gameplay and coaching staff after a disappointing finish during her title defense at the U.S. Open in September. “At the U.S. Open, I felt like I was playing without solutions, which was frustrating. Today, I felt more equipped to identify what I need to work on,” Gauff noted. She acknowledged the need for continued improvement, especially concerning her serve, expressing satisfaction with the progress made so far and her drive to remain aggressive on the court.
Despite her exit, Gauff maintained a positive outlook. “I feel like I’m on the right path,” she stated. Her impressive record entering the match was 9-0 for the year, after finishing the previous season winning her last four matches to lift the trophy at the WTA Finals in November. After her 1-hour, 43-minute defeat, she reflected, “There’s a lot more work to do. I’m disappointed, but I’m not crushed.”
Paula Badosa, on the other hand, moves on to her first Grand Slam semifinal at the age of 27. Less than a year ago, she faced contemplation of retirement due to a stress fracture in her back, which had her sidelined for an extended period. “I wanted to give it one last try, and here I am. I’m really proud of what I’ve overcome with my team and especially how I fought through mentally,” Badosa expressed.
In the semifinals scheduled for Thursday, Badosa will face her close friend and No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka, who has captured the title in Melbourne twice. Sabalenka extended her winning streak at the Australian Open to 19 matches after overcoming No. 27 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, finishing with a score of 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.
In the men’s draw, No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev, a two-time finalist at major tournaments, became the first man to secure a semifinal spot in this year’s Australian Open by defeating No. 12 Tommy Paul 7-6 (1), 7-6 (0), 2-6, 6-1. Paul came close to winning both the first and second sets but faltered in the crucial points, ultimately falling to Zverev, who excelled in the tiebreaks. Zverev is set to meet the winner of the highly anticipated match between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.
Both Djokovic, who is 37, and Alcaraz, just 21, are seeking significant milestones in their careers. Djokovic aims for his 11th Australian Open title and a record 25th Grand Slam singles championship, while Alcaraz hopes to complete his career Grand Slam by adding an Australian title to his Wimbledon, U.S. Open, and French Open victories.
Badosa’s journey to the semifinals involved overcoming significant physical challenges that began during a practice session at the tournament in Rome in May 2023. After working with coach Pol Toledo, they explored various treatments and lifestyle adjustments to address her ongoing back issues. Through consistent effort with a new medical team and specialized fitness regimens, Badosa made progress. “Things started to feel like they were finally coming together,” she shared.
In her match against Gauff, Badosa maintained constant pressure, forcing Gauff into a staggering 41 unforced errors, which included six double-faults and many missed forehands. Badosa took advantage of Gauff’s struggles, creating 10 break points and converting four of them during the match. Gauff finally earned her first break point only after losing a set and a break, illustrating her difficulties throughout the contest.
One pivotal game in the second set reflected Gauff’s challenges, stretching over 22 points and surpassing 12 minutes of play. Badosa managed to convert her fifth break opportunity as Gauff faltered with two consecutive forehand errors. Remarkably, of the 12 points that Badosa won during that game, 11 came from Gauff’s mistakes, including an astonishing seven errant forehands.
“She capitalized on the key moments,” Gauff conceded following her loss.
As Badosa concluded the match with a winning forehand, she expressed the emotion of the moment, kneeling on the court in gratitude. She previously achieved a career-high ranking of No. 2 in 2022 but felt she is now realizing her potential and ambitions. “I wanted this so much,” Badosa remarked. “Until I win the tournament, I won’t feel truly free; it’s just part of my character.”
