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Sabalenka v Gauff: Streaks collide in AO 2024 semifinals

  • Matt Trollope

Coco Gauff has not lost a match in 2024. Aryna Sabalenka has not lost a match at Rod Laver Arena since 2021.

One of those streaks will come to an end when they clash in the Australian Open 2024 semifinals.

It is a stellar semifinal match-up, the first of two at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday night.  

MORE: Day 12 schedule of play

A rematch of the US Open final, it pits the No.2 seed and reigning AO champion Sabalenka against fourth seed and reigning US Open champion Gauff.  

Sabalenka is riding a 12-match winning streak at the Australian Open, having won 24 of her past 25 sets at Melbourne Park. Her last loss at the tournament was to Kaia Kanepi in the 2022 fourth round.

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She is also undefeated in her past 12 matches at Rod Laver Arena, a streak dating back to her narrow fourth-round loss to Serena Williams in 2021.

MORE: AO 2024 women's singles draw

The manner in which Sabalenka has stormed into her sixth consecutive Grand Slam semifinal is breathtaking.

The longest she has been kept on court is 71 minutes, and she has won 10 sets in a row, pushed no closer than a scoreline of 6-3. She has surrendered a total of just 16 games. 

Five of those were to No.9 seed Barbora Krejcikova, whom she dismissed in the quarterfinals to improve her record at this stage of major tournaments to 8-0 – including a flawless 16-0 in sets.

She will hope to carry that form into her clash with Gauff in a bid to reverse the result of their final in New York. 

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Sabalenka has been in imposing form this fortnight in Melbourne

“I love it. I love it,” Sabalenka said of the looming match-up.  

“After US Open, I really wanted that revenge, and, I mean, that's a great match. It's always great battles against Coco, with really great fights.  

“I'm happy to play her, and I'm super excited to play that semifinal match.”

While Gauff has not dazzled in the same manner as Sabalenka en route to the semifinals, she has almost forgotten what it’s like to lose.  

The American teenager opened 2024 by defending her title in Auckland, and with five wins so far this fortnight at Melbourne Park, she’s a perfect 10-0 to start the season.

She had also won her past 12 Grand Slam matches – seven at Flushing Meadows and five so far at Melbourne Park.  

Two more wins at AO 2024 and she would emulate Serena Williams, Justine Henin, Kim Cijsters and Naomi Osaka as the only women this century to complete the US-AO hard-court major double. 

Gauff takes a 12-match winning streak in majors into Thursday's semifinal

“The goal is to stay here as long as possible and keep going upwards. I mean, I'm not at the top but I'm up there,” said Gauff, who has won 34 of her past 38 matches dating back to the start of August.

“I think definitely being in (Grand Slam) semis a couple of times before … you don't feel like it's your last time ever reaching this. You want to play like it's your last time, I guess, because you don't want to take advantage of the moment, but also just feel like you can do it again.

“It does give me confidence knowing that at least in that stage of a Grand Slam that my nerves are usually settled.  

“Hopefully I can go out there and be settled.” 

While Rod Laver Arena has increasingly become Sabalenka’s fortress, Gauff is unbeaten on the same court in the past three years.

Since her 2021 second-round loss to Elina Svitolina, Gauff has built a six-match winning streak at RLA.

Whichever of the pair’s impressive winning streaks you choose to consider, something has got to give when they go head-to-head for a place in the Australian Open 2024 final.