Sabalenka and Gauff Remain Unbeaten at the Australian Open: Key Matches to Watch
There are only two players left in the Australian Open who have not lost a match this year: Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff. Both players have exceptional talent, but they agree that it’s their mental strength that makes them champions.
During her second-round match, Sabalenka had a moment of realisation, thinking to herself, “Oh, my God, I’m really tough.” After the match, she told reporters, “I’ve had a lot of struggles over the years. I think all those challenges have made me really tough.”
Coco Gauff, on the other hand, has learned to focus on the process rather than the result. She reflected on her two Grand Slam finals – the 2022 French Open and the 2023 US Open – explaining, “In the first final, I felt close to winning, and that made me nervous. In the second final, it felt further away, so I played more freely.”
Both Sabalenka, who is ranked No.1, and Gauff, ranked No.3, are still unbeaten in 2023, with 8 wins each and no sets lost in Melbourne. Sabalenka has dropped 23 games, while Gauff has lost 20, and they could be on track to meet in the semi-finals.
Before that, there are some exciting fourth-round matches to look forward to:
No.1 Aryna Sabalenka vs. No.14 Mirra Andreeva
Sabalenka leads 3-1 in their head-to-head, having won their most recent match in Brisbane. Andreeva, who is only 16, faced Sabalenka last year in Madrid but was nervous and struggled, winning just four games. However, after a strong run in 2023, Andreeva feels more prepared and is aiming for a better result this time. Sabalenka, who has won 17 consecutive Grand Slam matches on hard courts, is chasing her third straight Australian Open title.
No.3 Coco Gauff vs. Belinda Bencic
This is a 1-1 head-to-head, with Bencic winning in 2019 and Gauff winning in 2023. Bencic has battled injuries but has made it to the fourth round after a tough match against Naomi Osaka, who retired due to an injury. Gauff, after a strong 6-4, 6-2 win over Leylah Fernandez, is one of the best players in the world right now, and this will be a challenging match for both.
Olga Danilovic vs. No.11 Paula Badosa
Danilovic, ranked No.55, caused an upset by beating No.7 seed Jessica Pegula. This is her first time reaching the fourth round of a Grand Slam, and she is aiming to make history as the first Serbian woman to reach a quarter-final since Ana Ivanovic in 2015. Badosa, who struggled earlier this season, is now feeling more confident after a win against No.17 Marta Kostyuk.
No.18 Donna Vekic vs. No.27 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Pavlyuchenkova has had a strong start to the tournament, winning 6-1, 6-2 in the third round. She is aiming to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in a long while. Vekic, who beat No.12 Diana Shnaider in a thrilling match, is hoping for her best-ever result at the Australian Open.
There’s plenty to look forward to as the tournament progresses, with many exciting matches ahead!
