World number one Sabalenka said her mentality is “trophy or nothing” after overpowering rising American star Jovic 6-3 6-0.

The 27-year-old Belarusian has a favourable 5-1 head-to-head record against Svitolina – but she will be wary after the Ukrainian dismantled Gauff 6-1 6-2.

A despondent Gauff served five double faults, made 26 unforced errors, hit just three winners and smashed her racquet in the players’ area after the loss.

Four-time major singles champion Sabalenka has made the semi-final stage at 14 of the past 17 majors she has contested.

She has become only the third women’s player to reach eight consecutive singles semi-finals at Grand Slams in the past 38 years, after Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis.

“I think that it’s unbelievable what I was able to achieve,” Sabalenka said.

“What’s really helping me to be there all the time is the focus that I’m having.

“Focusing on the right things definitely helps a lot with the consistency.”

‘Trophy or nothing’ mentality for Sabalenka

Sabalenka has reached this year’s semi-finals at Melbourne Park without dropping a set, taking her winning streak at the start of 2026 to 10 matches and 20 consecutive sets.

Having lost two Grand Slam finals last year – first in Melbourne and then at the French Open – Sabalenka defended her US Open crown in September and is the heavy favourite to regain her Australian Open title on her most successful surface.

Sabalenka, who has won 19 of her 22 career titles on hard courts, said: “I think every player, when they get to the tournament, is trophy or nothing.

“It’s always in the back of your mind that, obviously, you want to win it. But I’m trying to focus on the right things and trying my best in each match, each point, each game, each set. That’s my mentality.”

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Aryna Sabalenka won the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024 but lost last year’s final to Madison Keys

Sabalenka’s quarter-final against the 18-year-old Jovic was played in intense heat exceeding 40C, with the Australian Open’s heat stress scale hitting the cut-off mark shortly after the conclusion of their match.

The roof was closed on Rod Laver Arena as Sabalenka conducted her post-match interview and will stay shut for the day’s remaining matches

Jovic described Sabalenka, who has worked on controlling her emotions on-court to achieve consistency at the sport’s biggest tournaments, as “very inspiring”.

“I think the way she’s been able to use all the negative things that have happened to her and turned them into motivation and fuel to be better is amazing,” Jovic said.

The Australian Open, which starts on Sunday, January 18, announced this month that its prize pot would increase by 16 per cent to 111.5 million Australian dollars – approximately £56m – with the singles champions collecting more than £2m each.

It is the biggest increase in the tournament’s history but, with revenue also rising, players believe they deserve a higher proportion of the slams’ income, with the ultimate goal of pushing above 20 per cent.

Gauff was part of a meeting between leading players and representatives of the major tournaments at Roland Garros last spring, and the American expects more dialogue this year, with a collective frustration that more progress has not
been made.

“From my understanding, they obviously increased the prize money this year,” she said. “The percentage is still, of revenue comparison, not where we would like it.

“I think there’s still further conversations that have to be had, not just with the Australian Open but with all the slams. We have player representatives that have been working really hard to do that a lot for us because we can’t do it, be in person, as often.

“The collective feeling is that, yes, there’s been progress, but I still think it’s not where we would like to see it. We are grateful for the progress that has been made.

“I imagine that there will be continually more meetings. I think no one wants this conversation to be continuing for years and years. So I would imagine that we would continue to have those conversations and maybe more pressure being applied with especially the top 10.”

Defending champion Keys soaking up Melbourne return

The players are also calling for the slams to contribute to player welfare benefits, while they would like a seat at the table to influence issues such as scheduling.

Reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys said: “I think it’s really important. We obviously give a lot of ourselves to this sport.

Image: USA’s Madison Keys is the Australian Open defending champion after claiming her maiden Grand Slam title last year

“They [the slams], being the highest revenue holders, I think it absolutely makes sense. As we are the product, it makes sense for us to be partners.

“I think that it has been the most productive conversations that we’ve ever had, which leads me to be carefully optimistic, I think, for the future.”

American Keys is back at the scene of her greatest triumph after she defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka last January to claim her maiden Grand Slam title a few weeks before her 30th birthday.

“Everyone keeps asking me how my life has changed,” she said. “It hasn’t changed that much, other than I have a really cool trophy at home.

“I have a lot of people that come up to me and tell me winning made them cry. I think, for me, the biggest thing that I feel like as a huge takeaway is I was able to do that. I don’t think very often in sport you see that you have the ability to make people cry happy tears.

“I’m really just trying to soak in all of the really cool, fun parts, like walking in and seeing a picture of me holding the trophy. I could never have dreamed of that happening.

“I’m sure going on court I’m going to be very nervous, but I don’t think I’ve ever walked on court first round of a Grand Slam and not been nervous.”

Boulter back feeling positive after torrid 2025

Former British No 1 Katie Boulter is feeling positive heading into the first Grand Slam of the year, despite a wretched 2025 that she is glad to see the back of.

Image: Katie Boulter endured a torrid 2025 as she lost her grip on being British No 1 and slipped out of the world’s top 100

Last season was a struggle as Boulter dropped from 24th in the rankings to outside the top 100, losing her top British ranking to Emma Raducanu and battling niggling injuries.

“Adios 2025, don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” wrote Boulter on Instagram.

The 29-year-old chose to make a big change, splitting from long-term coach Biljana Veselinovic and turning to American Michael Joyce, who has previously worked with Maria Sharapova, Jessica Pegula and Johanna Konta.

The pair appear to have gelled well, while Boulter’s positive mood is also down to her impending wedding to Australian star Alex De Minaur.

“Seeing January 1, 2026 was a good start,” she said. “I’m getting married this year. It’s going to be an unbelievable year, one of the best ones in my life, no matter what happens on the tennis court. I think for me that’s already given me a positive push.

“I feel like having a new coach, having a new set-up, everything is fresh and exciting again. Whereas I feel like I was dragging my feet a little bit at the end of last year just trying to get through the whole entire year without injuries.”

Boulter has been given a tough first-round draw against 10th seed Belinda Bencic, while Britain’s leading man Cameron Norrie, in the absence of the injured Jack Draper, will open his campaign on Sunday against France’s Benjamin Bonzi.

Raducanu is also in action on the opening day taking on Thai Mananchaya Sawangkaew, while qualifier Arthur Fery will make his debut at the tournament against 20th seed Flavio Cobolli.

Japan’s Osaka, who gave birth to daughter Shai in 2023, knocked out American third seed Gauff with a 6-3 6-2 win to reach the New York quarter-finals.

Gauff, 21, came into her home Grand Slam clouded by uncertainty in her game and it showed in a subdued performance.

Former world number one Osaka played patiently to draw mistakes out of her opponent, whose forehand was particularly unable to cope with the scrutiny.

Osaka, seeded 23rd, broke into a coy-but-satisfied smile before clapping Gauff, who made a hasty exit, off the court.

Afterwards, Gauff said: “I am not going to let this crush me.”

Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka’s victory moved her into the last eight of a major for the first time since she won the 2021 Australian Open.

It was also her biggest win by ranking since beating then-world number one Ashleigh Barty at the China Open in 2019.

“Coco is one of the best players in the world. I have the most fun when I play against the best players. I always see it as a challenge. I like challenges,” said Osaka, before adding: “These are the moments that I play tennis for.”

Osaka will face Karolina Muchova in the last eight after the Czech 11th seed beat Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk.

How Osaka preyed on Gauff’s troubles

Two of the sport’s most high-profile stars meeting again in New York felt like the first real ‘popcorn’ match of the tournament.

Ultimately, it ended up lacking entertainment as Osaka, 27, earned a one-sided win, but emphasised the strides she has made over recent months.

A more measured approach to her powerful baseline game reaped rewards against 2023 champion Gauff.

Osaka smartly asked questions of the clearly-uncertain American, whose forehand breaking down in the rallies was the telling factor in a match lasting little over an hour.

Days before her home Grand Slam, Gauff made a bold move to reshuffle her team in a bid to stem the flow of double faults.

Grip specialist Matt Daly paid the price as in came biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan, who helped rival Aryna Sabalenka overcome her serving yips.

The drastic measure brought increased scrutiny at what is already a high-pressure tournament – and the added toll clearly affected Gauff.

Looking frustrated throughout the tournament, her unease was evident from the start against Osaka.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Gauff has not reached a quarter-final in the five tournaments she has played since winning her second major at the French Open in June

This manifested through her forehand – another area where she has struggled to find consistency over the years – while her serve held up well.

Eleven unforced errors from the forehand took the first set away from her. Framing a return from that wing also proved pivotal in the second set.

The mishit brought up two more break opportunities for Osaka at 3-2, with Gauff’s more-reliable backhand letting her down on the first point indicated the pressure she was feeling.

For much of the match, it felt like a virtually-capacity 25,000 crowd were slightly conflicted in their support of two hugely popular players.

Gauff led the home challenge in terms of seeding and superstar status, but Osaka – despite representing Japan – grew up in the Queens borough of New York City where the tournament is held.

Both women have also endeared themselves to fans by eloquently using their voices to shine light on social issues including racism.

Sensing the younger player needed them more, the crowd tried to rally Gauff as she stared at defeat, but she was unable to recover and exited at the fourth-round stage for the second straight year.

“I felt so discombobulated on the court, because I was serving well but not returning well. The last two years, everybody can agree that’s like a weird thought,” said Gauff.

“I think there’s a lot of positives to take from this tournament and I’m trying to be positive.

“I promise you that, I don’t feel that way right now, but I am not going to let this crush me.”

Swiatek books extra practice after powering through

Elsewhere on Monday, Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek extended her winning run at Grand Slams to 11 matches with a 6-3 6-1 demolition of Russian 13th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.

The Polish second seed wrapped up victory in just 64 minutes in a one-sided affair.

Such was the speed and ease of the victory that Swiatek immediately picked up her phone to text her coach and arrange a practice session.

“I asked him to book 10 minutes of a practice court if it’s possible,” she said in her on-court interview.

Targeting a second US Open title and second Grand Slam of the season, Swiatek has now reached the last eight or better at all four majors in the same season for the first time.

The six-time major winner will meet American Amanda Anisimova in the quarter-final, in a repeat of July’s Wimbledon final when Swiatek thrashed the eighth seed 6-0 6-0.

Anisimova brushed aside Brazilian 18th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-0 6-3 in Monday’s evening session.

Gauff broke down in tears as she struggled to a second-round win over Donna Vekic on Thursday, but the third seed looked confident and sharp as she won 6-3 6-1 against Poland’s Frech.

The 21-year-old is continuing to adapt to a new serving technique introduced by biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan, who was hired after Gauff committed 16 double faults in her Cincinnati Masters defeat by Jasmine Paolini earlier this month.

After an emotional first week at her home Grand Slam in New York, the crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium appeared to carry Gauff during the occasional nervy moments that threatened to derail a straightforward victory.

“The support means a lot, I can’t put into words the privilege I feel to walk on to this court and have the support of all you guys,” said Gauff, who won the title at Flushing Meadows in 2023.

“Everyone who is involved here, even janitors – having someone say they are rooting for you every five steps as I walk into this place means a lot to me.

“It’s been an emotional week, I think I needed those tough moments to be able to move forward.

“I was putting so much pressure on myself but I’m really out here just trying to enjoy it and not focus so much on results but the process. I think today showed I was really having fun out there.”

Gauff raced into an early 3-0 lead in the first set, before she double-faulted on break point in the fifth game as Frech clawed her way back to 3-3.

That wobble could have turned into a nosedive, but Gauff composed herself and won the next three games to wrap up the set in 43 minutes.

After making 79% of her first serves in the opening set, Gauff continued to build confidence in the second.

The two-time Grand Slam champion hit serves of 111mph and 113mph as she continued to improve her speeds from earlier in the tournament, and made just two double faults after making 18 in her first and second-round matches combined.

Gauff broke twice more in the second set to build a commanding lead, before breaking for a third time to secure her place in the next round.

She will face either 15th seed Daria Kasatkina or two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka in the last 16.

Meanwhile, 11th seed Karolina Muchova came from a set down to defeat Linda Noskova 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-2.

Back-to-back breaks at the end of the first set resulted in Noskova winning a tie-break, but mistakes cost the Czech player as she committed 15 double faults.

Muchova overpowered her compatriot to set up a last-16 meeting with either Diane Parry or 27th seed Marta Kostyuk.

Gauff, 21, was reduced to tears by more double faults before settling to win 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 on a supportive Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Seven-time Olympic gold medallist Biles was among the New York crowd as third seed Gauff toiled in a first set which was excruciating to watch at times.

On seeing Biles providing support in the stands, Gauff said: “She helped me pull it out.

“I thought if she can go on a six-inch beam with all the pressures in the world then I can hit the ball into this court.

“It brought me a little bit of calm. She is an inspiration to me and her presence helped me win.”

Days before her home Grand Slam, Gauff made a bold move to reshuffle her team in a bid to stem the flow of double faults.

Gauff made what she described as a “sudden decision” after hitting 16 double faults in her Cincinnati exit against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini.

Grip specialist Matt Daly paid the price as the American player brought in biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan, who helped rival Aryna Sabalenka overcome her serving yips.

The drastic measure has brought increased scrutiny at what is already a high-pressure tournament for the 2023 champion.

Gauff started sobbing underneath a towel at the changeover after a double fault contributed to Vekic breaking back for 4-4.

It was one of eight she hit in the first set and, while she eventually came through a messy opener featuring eight breaks of serve, Gauff felt the need to compose herself in a bathroom break before the second.

Overcoming adversity is one of Gauff’s greatest strengths and she limited the double faults to wrap up a straight-set victory.

Gauff, who played cleanly off the ground, broke down again during her on-court interview.

“I’ve never felt like that on the court before,” she told ESPN.

“With learning a new thing, you don’t feel comfortable and I think it affects everything else.

“I played really well, the serving can be improved, but it was better than my last match.

“There are a lot of positives to take and I need to remember that side of things.”

Gauff moves on to play Polish 28th seed Magdalena Frech in the last 32.

Swiatek toils in second-round win over Lamens

Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek admitted she “made some mistakes” in a laboured three-set victory over world number 66 Suzan Lamens to reach the US Open third round.

Second seed Swiatek raced through the first set against her Dutch opponent and looked on course for the sort of dominant early-round win that has become her trademark.

The 24-year-old was twice a break of serve up in the second set, but her frustration grew as her level dipped significantly, giving Lamens a route back into the contest.

The Pole moved a double break clear in the decider and eventually wrapped up a 6-1 4-6 6-4 victory in two hours and six minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Swiatek will play 29th seed Anna Kalinskaya in round three after the Russian beat Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 6-1 7-5.

Speaking on court after the match, six-time major champion Swiatek said: “It wasn’t an easy match and I made some mistakes. I’m happy that at the end I could be more proactive.

“I felt like it depended on me and whether I was going to make mistakes or not.

“It was not easy, but the third set is a reset. You’ve got to start from the beginning and I knew I could play a little more precisely, so I just tried to do that.”

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Iga Swiatek won the US Open title in 2022

Osaka battles ‘stress’ in strong performance

Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka admitted to being “stressed the entire time” as she defeated Hailey Baptiste 6-3 6-1.

A break apiece early in the first set teed up an intriguing contest, but Osaka’s quality and Baptiste’s struggles on serve – the American committed nine double faults and won just 19% of her second serves – proved the difference.

“I played her [Baptiste] last in Miami and it was probably the most difficult match of the year,” recalled Osaka, who won a three-set battle between the pair in March at the Miami Open.

“I was trying to focus on not giving her any free points.”

The 27-year-old has struggled for consistency and fitness since returning from maternity leave last year, but continued her good form after reaching the final of the Canadian Open earlier this month.

“I’m excited to be moving better and I feel really healthy,” added Japan’s Osaka, who is looking to win a major for the first time since the 2021 Australian Open.

Third seed Gauff was far from convincing but did enough to win 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 7-5 in almost three hours during Tuesday’s night session at Flushing Meadows.

The 21-year-old American’s serve came under particular scrutiny given the ongoing troubles with her opening shot.

Days before her home Grand Slam, 2023 champion Gauff reshuffled her team – sacking coach Matt Daly and hiring biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan, who helped rival Aryna Sabalenka overcome her serving yips.

“It was a tough match, I had chance to win it in straight sets. It wasn’t the best but I’m happy to get through,” Gauff said.

On attempting to improve the reliability of her serve at a critical time, she added: “It has been really tough – mentally exhausting – but I’m trying.”

Gauff made what she described as a “sudden decision” after hitting 16 double faults in her Cincinnati exit against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini.

The reigning French Open champion’s serve was put under pressure again in a long battle against 79th-ranked Tomljanovic.

While 18-time major winner Chris Evert believed Gauff’s service motion was generally more in “unison” and “balanced” than previously, she was still broken six times and hit 10 double faults.

The ongoing frailty came to the fore as she tried to serve out the match at 5-4 in the deciding third set.

Tomljanovic broke back before Gauff, after taking advice from MacMillan, served out at the second attempt with a safer tactic of going deeper down the middle.

The passionate celebration after securing victory – roaring to the heavens – demonstrated her relief at getting over the line.

“She’s got a way to go, confidence-wise, even though she won this match,” added Evert, who was analysing on US television.

Swiatek begins title bid with comfortable win

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Iga Swiatek has won four French Open titles, one US Open and one Wimbledon

World number two Iga Swiatek began her bid for a second US Open title with a comfortable straight-set victory over Colombia’s Emiliana Arango.

The Pole, who won a maiden Wimbledon title last month and is the favourite to add a second title at Flushing Meadows to her 2022 triumph, cruised to a 6-1 6-2 victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Swiatek hit 26 winners to world number 84 Arango’s five and won 76% of her points on serve without facing a break point.

“It felt great – first matches are not easy to get used to the rhythm and it was a solid match,” she said.

“I am happy that I wasn’t trying to overpower and I was solid.”

The six-time Grand Slam champion warmed up for the final major of the year with victory at the Cincinnati Open – a WTA 1000 event – and looks in fine tune in New York.

Just one day later, she featured in the US Open’s revamped mixed doubles event alongside Casper Ruud – where the pair reached the final but missed out to defending champions and doubles specialists Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.

Swiatek took early control of her match against Arango with a break of serve in the fourth game before breaking again for a 5-1 lead and holding to clinch the opening set.

That ruthless form continued into the second set as Swiatek immediately broke her opponent’s serve in the opening game, then again in the seventh, and sealed a dominant win in just over an hour.

Swiatek will face the Netherlands’ Suzan Lamens, ranked 66 in the world, in the second round.

Mixed fortunes for Americans

Elsewhere, eighth seed Amanda Anisimova made it safely through to the second round by beating Australian Kim Birrell 6-3 6-2.

American Anisimova, playing her first Grand Slam match since being beaten 6-0 6-0 by Swiatek in the Wimbledon final, hit 17 unforced errors in the opening set but improved markedly in the second.

She won the last five games of the match to set up a second-round meeting with another Australian, teenager Maya Joint.

However, her compatriot Danielle Collins made an early exit for the second consecutive year, winning just two games as she was beaten by Jaqueline Cristian of Romania.

World number 50 Cristian prevailed 6-2 6-0 against 2019 Australian Open semi-finalist Collins, who was hampered by a back injury.

Meanwhile, two-time champion Naomi Osaka – seeded 23rd – cruised past Belgium’s Greet Minnen in a 6-3 6-4 win.

Russian Diana Shnaider, the 20th seed, also went out after Germany’s Laura Siegemund secured a 7-6 (7-3) 2-6 6-3 victory over the 21-year-old.

The two players had progressed to the last 16 in contrasting ways, with Gauff having won her only match in straight sets before a walkover against Dayana Yastremska in last round.

Bronzetti, on the other hand, had come through in three sets in her previous three rounds and the world number 61 quickly found herself 3-0 down.

Gauff was broken in the fifth game but it proved a brief blip as she went on to win the opening set in 33 minutes.

The American went 2-0 up in the second set but suffered another lapse when she was broken to love by the Italian in the third game.

Bronzetti raised her game and had a break point at 2-2, only to send a backhand return long as Gauff managed to hold.

The second set was a more competitive affair but Bronzetti double-faulted twice when serving to stay in the match and Gauff went on to break and secure victory.

“For the most part I played aggressive,” said Gauff, who won the Cincinnati Open in 2023 before going on to win the US Open that year.

“Maybe there were a couple that were a little bit passive in some of those games but it’s tough – the balls are super light and she wasn’t giving me much pace.

“I was just trying to play controlled but also aggressive and, for the most part, I think I did well.”

Gauff will next face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, who won 6-1 6-2 against Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Krejcikova, who needed a medical timeout in the second set, was beaten in 71 minutes.

“I think she wasn’t at 100%, but she’s an unbelievable player,” said Paolini.

“She can put the ball wherever she wants every time. I don’t know how she does this. But I’m happy that I tried to stay there mentally until the last point.”

The American second seed was beaten 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 by Ukraine world number 42 Dayana Yastremska on a packed Court One under the roof.

Gauff, 21, was a contender for the title at SW19 following her triumph at Roland Garros less than a month ago.

But a performance strewn with double faults and unforced errors handed Yastremska a rare opportunity against the world number two and she grasped it with both hands to reach the second round.

Gauff teared up as she expressed “disappointment” at the loss and said she would do things differently in the build-up to the grass-court swing next time, particularly after a deep run at the French Open.

“I think it’s just changing my playing style a little bit, which is difficult,” she said.

“I have faith that if I can make these adjustments, I can do well here. I really do want to do well here.

“I’m not someone who wants to write myself off grass this early in my career, but I definitely need to make changes if I want to be successful here.”

The shock result follows first-round exits for fellow top-five seeds Jessica Pegula and Zheng Qinwen on day two at the Championships.

American third seed Pegula lost 6-2 6-3 to Italy’s world number 116 Elisabetta Cocciaretto while Olympic champion Zheng went down 7-5 4-6 6-1 to Katerina Siniakova.

Gauff questions Wimbledon preparations

Just three and a half weeks ago Gauff was on top of the world, having lifted the trophy at Roland Garros after beating world number one Aryna Sabalenka.

But a lacklustre performance laden with mistakes on her unfavoured surface saw the two-time major winner head out early against the unseeded Yastremska, leading her to question her build-up to the grass-court major.

“I just feel like the surface, I maybe could have used more matches,” she said.

“If you go deep in Roland Garros, you’re debating: ‘do I rush and play that week, or do I take time and play the week before?’ It’s a tricky thing.

“It’s like finding the puzzle. I don’t like to play the week before. It’s a quick turnaround, so I think just trying to learn whether it’s better to train more and maybe play Bad Homburg or Eastbourne.

“If that time comes around again I’ll approach it differently.”

Since winning her first title on the Paris clay last month Gauff has played just one match, a first-round defeat by qualifier Wang Xinyu of China at the Berlin Open.

In that match, she was plagued by double faults and those demons were back to haunt her again at SW19.

Gauff recorded nine double faults and 29 unforced errors compared with just six winners and struggled against Yastremska’s aggressive style and powerful ground strokes.

Success on grass continues to elude her with Wimbledon the only Grand Slam where Gauff is yet to reach the last eight.

Pegula records ‘worst result of year’ as Zheng also falls

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Pegula has never gone beyond the quarter-finals at Wimbledon

Pegula said her first-round exit earlier on Tuesday was her “worst result of the year” as she was beaten by a player ranked 113 places below her.

The 31-year-old had heavy strapping on her right knee but said that did not bother her as she was dismantled in just 58 minutes on Court Two by Cocciaretto.

“This is definitely probably the worst result I’ve had all year,” the American said.

“I’ve been winning lots of matches. It’s just all about it having to come together for two weeks. Sometimes it doesn’t quite all align when you need it to.”

Pegula has only once gone beyond the quarter-final stage of a major – at last year’s US Open where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the final – and has gone out before the last eight in all three Grand Slam tournaments since.

This marks her worst performance at a major since the 2020 French Open.

Less than three hours later she was followed out of the door by Chinese fifth seed Zheng after a grass-court lesson from doubles champion Siniakova.

Siniakova, who has won the Wimbledon women’s doubles title three times, showed her grass-court pedigree to ensure Zheng’s challenge ended at the first hurdle for the third year in a row. It was the Czech who also knocked her out at the same stage two years ago.

Polish eighth seed Iga Swiatek advanced with a comprehensive 7-5 6-1 victory over Russia’s Polina Kudermetova.

Teenager Mirra Andreeva was also a 6-3 6-3 winner against Egypt’s Mayar Sherif while 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina cruised through with a 6-2 6-1 victory over Armenia’s Elina Avanesyan.

World number one Sabalenka put in an error-strewn performance in a 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-4 loss to Gauff earlier this month.

The Belarusian said afterwards it was the “worst final I ever played”, adding: “I think she won the match not because she played incredible [but] just because I made all of those mistakes.”

Speaking 10 days on from the Paris final, Sabalenka said she “absolutely regretted” her remarks.

“That was just completely unprofessional of me. I let my emotions get the better of me,” the 27-year-old told Eurosport Germany.

“I’m just a human being who’s still learning in life. I think we all have those days when we lose control.

“I wrote to Coco afterwards – not immediately, but recently.”

Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam singles champion, has lost both of the major finals she has reached this year.

She lost to Madison Keys in the Australian Open final, where she was two-time defending champion, before the defeat by Gauff.

She committed 70 unforced errors against Gauff, one of the best defenders on the women’s tour, and struggled to keep her composure.

“I was super emotional and not very smart at that press conference,” Sabalenka added.

“It took me a while to revisit it, to approach it with open eyes and to understand.

“I realised a lot about myself. Why did I lose so many finals? I kept getting so emotional.

“So it was a tough but very instructive lesson for me.”

Sabalenka begins her grass-court season at the Berlin Open, where she is the top seed, before Wimbledon gets under way on 30 June.

American second seed Gauff claimed a 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-4 victory after a tense battle between the WTA Tour’s two leading players in testing conditions.

It is the second Grand Slam singles triumph of Gauff’s career, adding to the US Open title she won in 2023, also by beating Belarus’ Sabalenka.

“I honestly didn’t think I could do it,” Gauff, 21, said during the trophy presentation.

Gauff recovered from a difficult start where she trailed by a double break, eventually finding her rhythm and benefiting from a huge number of mistakes from 27-year-old Sabalenka.

“This hurts so much. Congratulations to Coco – she was a better player than me,” said Sabalenka, who was also bidding for her first Roland Garros title.

A stiff breeze played havoc with serve in the opening two sets, leading to the pair exchanging 12 breaks in an entertaining if not high-quality affair.

Gauff, who lost in the 2022 final, settled quicker in the deciding third set to move a break up and kept her nerve to serve out victory.

She had to survive another break point before winning her second championship point, falling to the clay on her back when Sabalenka pushed a forehand wide.

With her parents Candi and Corey dancing euphorically in the stands, Gauff shared an affectionate hug with Sabalenka before running off court to celebrate with her family.

From tears of pain to tears of joy – Gauff’s redemption

Gauff’s previous appearance in the French Open singles showpiece, when she was still a teenager, ended in her covering her head with a towel as she sobbed on her chair.

It was the defining image of her defeat by Iga Swiatek, but she vowed to come back stronger – and she has.

“I was going through a lot of things when I lost here three years ago,” Gauff said.

“I’m just glad to be back here. I was going through a lot of dark thoughts.”

Three years on, Gauff returned to the final as a Grand Slam champion, having fulfilled the potential promised by winning in New York.

A productive clay-court swing, taking her to the Madrid and Rome finals, meant she arrived in Paris considered a sounder bet than defending champion Swiatek.

“Three finals… I guess I got the most important win – that’s all that matters,” said Gauff.

Only Sabalenka, who beat her to the Madrid title, had performed better and it was therefore unsurprising the top two seeds met again with the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen at stake.

The tricky conditions met neither woman was able to play their best tennis, but Gauff showed indefatigable spirit and will to win.

Like in 2022 after her defeat by Poland’s Iga Swiatek, there were more tears for Gauff – this time, ones of joy.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Gauff is the first American to win Roland Garros since Serena Williams in 2015

Sabalenka falls short in clay quest

The consistency of Sabalenka across all surfaces over the past three years has been unparalleled.

After excelling on hard courts, she has developed her game to become a force on clay and grass.

By reaching the Paris last eight, Sabalenka was the first player to reach the quarter-finals at 10 consecutive Grand Slams since American great Serena Williams in 2017.

But she fell agonisingly short of landing her first major on the slower clay surface.

All three of her previous major triumphs came on the quicker hard courts at the Australian Open and US Open.

After collecting her runners-up prize, Sabalenka fought back tears and apologised to her team for “playing a terrible final”.

Like in her semi-final win over defending champion Swiatek, Sabalenka started aggressively and confidently to move a double break ahead.

She was a point away from a 5-1 lead but her dominance quickly disappeared as Gauff fought back.

Despite recovering from 5-3 down in the tie-break, Sabalenka continued to be animated and regularly chastised herself.

It meant she was unable to stem the flow of mistakes from her racquet, with a huge total of 70 unforced errors illustrating her difficulties.

A new women’s singles champion will be crowned either way, with world number one Sabalenka seeking a fourth major singles title and second-ranked Gauff a second.

Gauff, the US Open champion in 2023, finished runner-up in Paris three years ago, while two-time Australian Open winner and last year’s New York champion Sabalenka is in a first Roland Garros final.

The pair have five wins apiece from 10 previous meetings before going head-to-head on Court Philippe Chatrier, where the winner will take home 2.5m euros (£2.1m) and 2,000 ranking points.

Sabalenka and Gauff overcame two very different challenges in their respective semi-finals.

Underlining her position as title favourite, Sabalenka ended four-time champion Iga Swiatek’s 26-match run with an impressive three-set victory.

Gauff, meanwhile, was up against a partisan crowd but efficiently ended French wildcard Lois Boisson’s fairytale run in straight sets.

Sabalenka continues to show remarkable consistency at the sport’s highest level, with this her third successive major singles final.

The 27-year-old is the first woman to achieve that feat since the great Serena Williams nine years ago.

Sabalenka has competed in 10 tournaments this year, reaching seven finals, and she leads the WTA Tour with 40 wins in 46 matches.

Gauff, meanwhile, continues to emerge as a force to be reckoned with on clay.

The 21-year-old, bidding for her first title of the season, is the youngest woman to reach the finals at Madrid, Rome and the French Open in the same year.

With her run to the Roland Garros final, she has also become the youngest player to amass 70 wins at Grand Slam tournaments since Maria Sharapova in 2007.

Where will French Open women’s final be won and lost?

There is nothing to split Sabalenka and Gauff in the overall head-to-head record.

They each have one win at the majors, with Gauff defeating Sabalenka in the 2023 US Open final before Sabalenka took revenge in their Australian Open semi-final in 2024.

Both have a win each on clay, with Gauff prevailing in the Italian Open fourth round in 2021 and Sabalenka claiming a straight-set win in their most recent meeting in the Madrid final.

That victory in May perhaps gives Sabalenka a slight edge in Paris, given she has won three of their past four meetings.

But with half of their encounters going the distance – and both players losing just one set in their six matches so far – expectations are high for Saturday’s showpiece.

Known for her brutal hitting, Sabalenka has been typecast as a hard-court specialist throughout her career, with all three of her major singles titles won on that surface.

But she is ever adapting her game. Against Swiatek, she kept the key points short and stifled the clay-court expert’s game with devastating accuracy.

Asked how it would feel to win the French Open, Sabalenka said: “It’s going to mean everything to me and my team.

“Almost [my] whole life I’ve been told [clay] is not my thing and then I didn’t have any confidence.

“If I’ll be able to get this trophy, it’s going to mean the world for us.”

Gauff knows what to expect from Sabalenka – but overcoming that challenge is a different matter.

She will have to be at her best defensively to withstand Sabalenka’s power and try to draw her into longer rallies.

Holding her serve and keeping double faults to a minimum will be key to keeping pressure on Sabalenka and supply a platform for creating opportunities to build on her tournament-leading tally of converted break points (40).

“She’s going to come out aggressive, she’s going to come out swinging,” Gauff said.

“I think I just have to expect that and do my best to kind of counter that.

“Anything can happen on Saturday. I’m looking forward to it, and I’m glad to be going up against a world number one, too.”

Later on Saturday, British pair Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski contest the French Open men’s doubles final against Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos.

Gauff won 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 6-1 under the roof on Court Phillippe Chatrier to reach her third semi-final at Roland Garros.

Both players were well below their best but Gauff eventually found her rhythm late in the second set and kicked on to dominate in the third.

“It wasn’t an easy match and I’m very happy to get through it,” said Gauff, 21.

“She is obviously a very great player and her forehand is probably one of the best, if not the best, on tour.

“Honestly I knew that I just had to be able to run today. As soon as the ball came short, I knew I had to punish her for it.”

Gauff, who won the French Open doubles title alongside Czech Katerina Siniakova in 2024, will face either Russian sixth seed Mirra Andreeva or French wildcard and world number 361 Lois Boisson.​​​​​​​

Gauff has fared well on clay so far this year, reaching back-to-back finals in Madrid and Rome where she missed out on the titles to Aryna Sabalenka and Jasmine Paolini respectively.

A nervy start saw Gauff and Keys trade early breaks but Keys settled quickly as her rival continued to flounder, opening up a 4-1 lead.

To Gauff’s credit, she fought her way back into proceedings and held set point, but Australian Open champion Keys came through in the tie-break.

Unforced errors started to creep into Keys’ game during the second set and she quickly found herself on the backfoot at a double break down.

But just as Gauff had in the first set, Keys cancelled out the advantage, only for her opponent to level the match with another break and a hold.

Gauff had conceded nine double faults across the opening two sets but it was Keys who finished the match with 60 unforced errors off her racquet, compared to Gauff’s 41.

That ultimately proved to be the difference as Gauff, having finally found her serve, raced through the deciding set.

It is the third time Gauff has beaten Keys in six meetings and marked the first time she has beaten the 30-year-old on clay.

Gauff has lost to the eventual winner on each of her last four appearances at the French Open and if she can get through the semi-finals will face either defending champion Iga Swiatek or world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the final.

The American, 21, dismantled Russian 20th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-0 7-5 in Paris.

The opening set lasted 29 minutes, with Gauff dropping just five points across the first five games.

It is the fifth consecutive year 2022 runner-up Gauff has reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.

She will face the winner of the all-American fourth-round meeting between Australian Open champion Madison Keys and Hailey Baptiste.

Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva also progressed to the last eight in straight sets.

The sixth seed defeated Australian 17th seed Daria Kasatkina 6-3 7-5 and will play either American third seed Jessica Pegula or French wildcard Lois Boisson next.

Red-hot start helps Gauff to victory

Gauff made a commanding start against Alexandrova but came under pressure as she served for the first set.

She had to withstand five break points in a sixth game lasting almost 10 minutes before she eventually converted her third set point.

Gauff was the first to face break points in a competitive second set but struck first against an improving opponent to lead 4-3.

Alexandrova, competing in the fourth round in Paris for the first time, offered resistance with an immediate response – but Gauff finished the stronger and sealed victory with a run of three straight games.

It is a fourth consecutive straight-set win for Gauff at this year’s tournament. She has also become the youngest player to reach as many as five women’s singles quarter-finals at a single major since Venus Williams at the 2001 US Open.

‘I hate playing her’ – Andreeva battles past Kasatkina

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Mirra Andreeva reached the French Open semi-finals last year

At 18, Andreeva is the youngest player to reach back-to-back women’s singles quarter-finals at Roland Garros since Martina Hingis in 1998.

And she did so with victory against an opponent she admitted she does not like to practise with, let alone face for a place in a major quarter-final.

Andreeva edged a close first set with an assured service game after she broke Kasatkina’s serve in the eighth game.

She then battled back impressively from 5-3 down in the second set, winning four straight games to close out the match.

“It was a hell of a match,” said Andreeva, who lost to Kasatkina in the Ningbo final last year in China.

“Honestly I’m so so happy I won, I hate playing against her.

“We practise a lot and even practice is a torture for me.”

The 21-year-old beat 18-year-old Czech Valentova 6-2 6-4 to advance.

American second seed Gauff reached the singles final at Roland Garros in 2022 but fell in straight sets to ‘Queen of Clay’ Iga Swiatek.

Gauff has now won 12 of her past 14 matches, including reaching finals on the clay in Madrid and Rome.

However, she was made to work in the final set, with the pair exchanging nine breaks of serve before Gauff held for a 5-4 lead.

She then broke Valentova to 15 to secure victory and set up a third-round meeting with Marie Bouzkova.

Gauff won her first major singles title at the US Open in 2023 and also claimed the Roland Garros women’s doubles title alongside Katerina Siniakova last year.

American third seed Jessica Pegula progressed with a 6-3 7-6 (7-3) victory over compatriot Ann Li.

Pegula documented her subway trips to the US Open last year and has done the same in Paris, taking the Metro to Roland Garros during the week.

“Nobody recognised me at all. Nobody cared in that sense,” the 31-year-old laughed.

“It was definitely very nice, very clean. A lot more relaxed than when I took the subway in New York. That’s, like, an experience.

“Paris, it was really easy, super chill, very clean. I didn’t have to go that far.

“I want to see if I can maybe take some players and do a couple of those in the future.”

Teenager Mirra Andreeva, a semi-finalist in Paris last year, was a 6-3 6-4 winner against American Ashlyn Krueger.

Former Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova advanced on day five, beating Poland’s Magdalena Frech 6-0 4-6 6-3, but defending SW19 champion Barbora Krejcikova lost 6-0 6-3 to Veronika Kudermetova in 74 minutes.

World number one Sabalenka dominated the opening set but squandered a championship point in a fluctuating second set as Gauff forced a tie-break.

There was still little to separate them as Gauff recovered from 3-0 to make it 3-3 but a double fault gave 26-year-old Sabalenka the victory.

Both came into the final confidently, with Belarusian Sabalenka as the world’s best and Gauff coming off the back of her stunning semi-final win over Iga Swiatek.

Sabalenka made a flying start, which included 17 points won in a row, but Gauff’s brave recovery saw her take a 5-3 lead in the second set.

The 21-year-old American then saved six break points to thwart Sabalenka’s comeback after she had made it 5-5.

But Sabalenka held her nerve under pressure in her sixth final of 2025 so far, adding the Madrid title to her wins in Brisbane and Miami.

Her previous wins in Madrid came in 2021 and 2023 and she was runner-up to Swiatek in 2024. She ties with Czech player Petra Kvitova (2011, 2015, 2018) for the most wins in the tournament.

“Congratulations to Coco. I am so happy to see you back playing your best tennis,” Sabalenka said.

“You are such a fighter and I love playing against you.

“With my team, we have been through a lot together so thank you to them.”

Gauff said to Sabalenka: “I think it’s four straight finals for you… Congratulations to you for all the success you are having.”

She added: “This has been a step in the right direction for me. It is one of my favourite cities and tournaments to come to, and hopefully we can go on and win more from here.”

The Spaniard, a former world number two, spent almost two years struggling with back problems and fell to 140th in the rankings

But, after a strong end to 2024, Badosa’s comeback continued in sensational fashion as she ended American Gauff’s 13-match winning streak with a 7-5 6-4 victory.

“I’m a bit emotional – as you know, I’m a very emotional person,” Badosa said.

“I’ve been through a lot. I was in the past one of the best players in the world but I think now I’m a better player.”

Badosa was named the WTA’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2024 after recovering from a stress fracture in her spine that saw her miss two of the four majors in 2023.

The 27-year-old won her first title in over two years at August’s Washington Open before reaching the quarter-finals of the US Open a month later.

“A year ago I was here with my back and I didn’t know if I had to retire from this sport,” 11th seed Badosa said.

“Now I’m here playing against the best in the world. I won today, I’m in the semi-finals.

“I will never think that a year after I would be here. This is a dream come true.”

She will face either two-time defending champion and close friend Aryna Sabalenka or Russian 27th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova next.

Gauff ‘disappointed but not crushed’

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Coco Gauff lost in last year’s semi-finals to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka

Third seed Gauff arrived in Melbourne as the most in-form player on tour, having won last year’s WTA Finals and all five of her singles matches at the season-opening United Cup – including a victory over Iga Swiatek.

Before her last-16 win against Belinda Bencic, the 20-year-old had not dropped a set in eight matches this season.

But it was Badosa who struck first on Rod Laver Arena, breaking for a 6-5 lead before holding serve to clinch the opening set.

The pair traded breaks in the second set but Gauff’s game broke down, with the 20-year-old committing 25 unforced errors and six double faults.

Badosa ultimately served out the match at the second time of asking, sinking to her knees in celebration before sharing a hug with Gauff at the net.

“Paula was playing great. Maybe some moments in the first set could have gone my way,” Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, said.

“I’m obviously disappointed, but I’m not completely crushed.

“Even though I lost today, I feel like I’m in an upward trajectory.”

The American, 20, wrote “RIP TikTok USA” and drew a broken heart on a camera lens shortly after her win over Belinda Bencic in the Australian Open fourth round.

The social media platform has gone offline for American users, hours before a new law banning the platform was due to come into effect.

It has been banned in the US over concerns about its links to the Chinese government.

Speaking after her 5-7 6-2 6-1 win over Switzerland’s Bencic in Melbourne, third seed Gauff said: “Hopefully it comes back. It’s really sad. I love TikTok.”

“It’s like an escape. I honestly do that before matches.

“I guess it’ll force me to read books more, be more of a productive human probably. Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise.”

Gauff, who will face Spanish 11th seed Paula Badosa in the quarter-finals, has more than 750,000 followers on TikTok.

Because she was in Melbourne, she wondered if the ban would still apply.

“I honestly thought I’d be able to get away with it,” added Gauff.

“I guess it’s something to do with my number. I don’t know. I have to do some research.”

US President-elect Donald Trump had said he would “most likely” give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the ban after taking office on Monday.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Gauff wrote on a TV camera following her win over Bencic

Defending champion and top seed Aryna Sabalenka, who has more than 500,000 followers on the platform, is also hoping the ban is lifted.

The Belarusian, who beat Russia’s Mirra Andreeva to reach the last eight, recreated one of her viral dance videos with fans on Rod Laver Arena after her first-round victory a week ago.

“This isn’t something we can control and I hope they’re going to figure it out because I love TikTok,” she said.

Sabalenka is set to face another Russian in Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the quarter-finals after the 27th seed beat Croatia’s 18th seed Donna Vekic.

Third seed Gauff, one of the favourites for the title in Melbourne, beat compatriot and 2020 champion Sofia Kenin 6-3 6-3.

Gauff wrote “stay strong LA, thank you firefighters” on the camera lens after her victory.

She and Taylor Fritz have previously donated to a charity effort to help those affected.

Seventh seed Pegula wrote “LA” and drew a love heart on the lens after her dominant 6-3 6-0 victory over Australian wildcard Maya Joint.

Poland’s world number two Iga Swiatek earlier signed “sending my love to Malibu and LA”.

The five-time Grand Slam champion began her Australian Open campaign with a 6-3 6-4 win over Czech Katarina Siniakova.

The fires, which began on 7 January, are being marked as the most destructive in the city’s history.

The LA County medical examiner said on Sunday that 24 people have died in the fires, while at least another 16 remain missing.

Donna Vekic, who is coached by American Pam Shriver, also sent a message to the city after her first-round win on Sunday.

Shriver has stayed behind in LA to help her family.

In an enthralling encounter that lasted just over three hours, the American beat the Olympic champion 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-2) in Saudi Arabia.

At 20 years old, she is the youngest player to win the tournament since Maria Sharapova exactly two decades ago, and the youngest American since Serena Williams in 2001.

“This means a lot to me,” said third seed Gauff, who wins a total prize of $4.8m (£3.7m) – a record amount in women’s professional tennis.

“This is the first professional women’s tennis event here in Saudi Arabia and I’ll forever be etched in history in that standard.”

Speaking earlier to Sky Sports, she said: “That was a great match. I was just trying my best to hang in there and I never gave up.”

In progressing to Saturday’s showpiece in Riyadh, Gauff had become the youngest player to reach the championship match at the WTA Finals since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010.

She had seen off both the world number one and two in Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek en route to the final, and piled the pressure on her opponent in the early stages against Zheng.

In what was only their second meeting – Gauff having won their first in straight sets in Rome earlier this year – Zheng, 22, was forced to save four break points, including three in a captivating fifth game.

But it was the Chinese seventh seed who got the decisive break in the opener, a double fault from Gauff after a hat-trick of unforced errors giving Zheng the advantage from which she sealed the set as Gauff slammed a backhand into the net.

Zheng’s serve is one of her greatest weapons, but she struggled to show it off against Gauff, with her first of only four aces coming at the start of the second set after she had broken Gauff again.

With renewed determination, the American restored parity in an outstanding return game, after which the pair again traded breaks. But the unperturbed Gauff broke Zheng’s serve for the third successive game to take the match to a decider.

At the start of the third set, Gauff saved three break points before conceding as Zheng took back control on her serve – yet it was only temporary.

Gauff soon broke back, her fine play at the net rewarded as Zheng sent a forehand long, before securing another love hold.

Zheng then won three successive games, dropping just four points along the way, and looked to be sauntering towards the win. But a game of errors when serving for the match brought Gauff back into contention.

That was the start of the American’s own three-game run, her spree halted as Zheng saved two championship points to ensure the tournament would be decided by a tie-break, which Gauff utterly dominated.

The victory marks her third title of a year in which she did not reach a singles Grand Slam final, with her best runs coming at the Australian Open and on the Roland Garros clay, when she was eliminated in the semi-finals.

Fourth-round exits followed at Wimbledon and in New York, where she had been defending her maiden major title from 2023.

Gauff previously said she had reservations about playing in Saudi Arabia because of the country’s human rights record, but said after her win: “Hopefully there’s more events here.”

Year to remember for Zheng

Although it has ended in defeat, 2024 has been a season to remember for Zheng, who after reaching her first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open in January – losing to Sabalenka – made history in Paris in the summer when she won China’s first Olympic singles tennis gold medal.

In addition to that success, the year also brought Zheng a successful title defence at the Palermo Ladies Open as well as victory at the Pan Pacific Open, which secured her place at the WTA Finals for the first time in her career.

She is the youngest player to reach the final of the tournament on debut since Petra Kvitova in 2011, and will start 2025 as a top-five player.

“It hurts to lose this match of course but I think it’s better I forget it and move on for my next steps,” said Zheng.

Earlier on Saturday, second seeds Erin Routliffe and Gabriela Dabrowski won the doubles title in Riyadh.

The New Zealand-Canadian pair beat American Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic 7-5 6-3, avenging their loss in the Wimbledon final.

The American beat second seed Swiatek 6-3 6-4 to join Aryna Sabalenka in the last four in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The result also means Sabalenka will be the year-end world number one as number two Swiatek can no longer catch her in the rankings.

It is only the second time Gauff has defeated Poland’s Swiatek in 13 attempts.

“It feels great,” said 20-year-old Gauff. “I knew going into the match, despite our head-to-head, I had a lot of confidence and I felt like I was playing great tennis.

“Even when I was playing a little bit sloppy, the games that I lost were still going to deuce. That gave me confidence and I knew if I stayed solid I had the chance to close out the match.”

Earlier, Gauff’s compatriot Jessica Pegula became the second player to be eliminated from the season-ending tournament – after Elena Rybakina on Monday – following her 6-3 6-3 defeat by Barbora Krejcikova.

Swiatek must beat Pegula in Thursday’s final Orange Group match to progress, while third seed Gauff has to hold off Czech Krejcikova in order to top the group standings.

Not since last year’s Cincinnati Open had Gauff beaten 23-year-old Swiatek, on that occasion in three sets, and the American piled the pressure on her opponent from the start of their meeting in Riyadh.

French Open champion Swiatek – playing only her second match under new coach Wim Fissette – saved four break points early in the first set before her backhand over the baseline put Gauff ahead at the fifth opportunity.

Gauff then converted set point on Swiatek’s serve as the Pole hit a wayward forehand out of bounds.

But Gauff’s game fell apart at the start of the second set, forced into saving five break points across her opening two service games – in which she also made six double faults – before Swiatek finally got one over the line.

But she immediately broke back to love as she regained her composure, then holding again from break point down.

The pair traded more breaks in a topsy-turvy set, in which seven of the first eight opening games featured break points.

Gauff’s first love-hold of the match followed, before Swiatek handed her the win with a long forehand return on match point.

Pegula eliminated after lacklustre performance

Image source: Reuters

Image caption: At last year’s WTA Finals, Jessica Pegula lost to Iga Swiatek in the final

In Tuesday’s earlier match, Wimbledon champion Krejcikova faced little challenge from a below-par Pegula, who last year reached the tournament’s final.

In a performance devoid of any positive energy, Pegula struggled to cope with the Czech’s huge serves, including 11 aces, and hit just four winners in a match lasting little more than an hour.

US Open finalist Pegula, 30, had got off to the perfect start with a love hold in her first service game, amid a catalogue of Krejcikova unforced errors.

But after Krejcikova got the initial break midway through the first set, sixth seed Pegula’s body language began to sour and she gifted her opponent the opener with a sloppy return tapped into the net from close range.

Form did not improve for Pegula at the start of the second set as Krejcikova broke her serve at the first opportunity, though there was a brief reprieve for the American as she cancelled that out in the next game.

But any glimmer of hope for a Pegula comeback was extinguished as she double-faulted to give her opponent the break back, after which Krejcikova – whose performance was far from polished – coasted to a straightforward victory with a solitary break point her only hurdle.

“I’m really pleased with the way I played today. I felt I had to play my best tennis,” said eighth seed Krejcikova, who is ranked 13th in the world but qualified for the WTA Finals on account of being a 2024 Grand Slam champion.

“I had some very high parts of the season, especially winning the Wimbledon title. It was something that is really indescribable, and to be here right now is a huge privilege to be playing in the final eight.”

The WTA Finals are being held in Saudi Arabia for the first time – a move which has been criticised by some because of the country’s human rights record.

This year’s tournament has record prize money, with the singles champion set to collect about £4m.

In Wednesday’s final Purple Group round-robin matches, Sabalenka will take on Rybakina before Jasmine Paolini and Zheng Qinwen go head-to-head for a place in the semi-finals.

Poland’s Swiatek trailed the Wimbledon champion by a set and double break before regrouping to win 4-6 7-5 6-2.

This was the 23-year-old’s first match since her quarter-final US Open exit in September and first under new coach Wim Fissette.

“At the beginning I felt a bit rusty but I’m happy that I found a way to play a bit more solid,” said Swiatek.

She and Aryna Sabalenka are in contention to finish the year as the top-ranked player.

Defending champion Swiatek will need to win the title to replace Sabalenka, while the Belarusian needs to win all three round-robin matches or reach the final.

Sabalenka began her campaign with victory over Zheng Qinwen on Saturday.

Coco Gauff beat fellow American and doubles partner Jessica Pegula 6-3 6-2 in the second Orange Group match on Sunday.

The top two players from each group advance to the semi-finals, with Sabalenka, Zheng, Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini in the Purple Group.

The tournament is being held in Saudi Arabia for the first time – a move which has been criticised by some because of the country’s human rights record.

French Open champion Swiatek took an extended break after the US Open, pulling out of tournaments in China for personal reasons before splitting with her coach of three years.

She arrived in Riyadh early to get the feel of the courts but her performance was scrappy in the opening stages of the match.

Broken in the first game, she had opportunities on the Krejcikova serve but her forehand in particular let her down.

Krejcikova, who finished outside the top eight in the world rankings but was given a place on account of being a Grand Slam champion, served out the set and quickly went a break up in the second.

Swiatek double faulted in her next service game to hand her Czech opponent a double break and gestured angrily at her box, before regaining her composure.

She cut down on the unforced errors to bring the set level at 3-3 and then benefited as Krejcikova threw in a horrible service game to concede the set.

Swiatek kept the momentum going into the decider and led an increasingly hampered Krejcikova 5-0 before sealing victory after two hours and 35 minutes.

‘Sometimes sloppy, sometimes great – but that’s tennis’

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Coco Gauff won the China Open title in October

Gauff’s US Open title defence ended in the fourth round in September but, after parting with coach Brad Gilbert, she immediately bounced back by claiming the China Open title.

The serve that let her down so badly in New York appeared sharper against Pegula, with the 20-year-old hitting two aces to just two double faults.

Her forehand, arguably her biggest weakness, was still error-prone against Pegula, but Gauff was more solid throughout.

She broke to go 4-2 up and then calmly served out the first set, wrapping it up with a forehand winner.

Pegula struggled for consistency against her good friend, often following up a well-constructed point with an uncharacteristic miss.

She was broken in the first game of the second set and whacked her racquet to the floor in frustration, but that seemed to reset her as she broke back from 40-0 down.

However, four unforced errors in a row from Pegula handed Gauff the break back, and the younger American promptly won four games in a row to clinch victory.

“Sometimes it was sloppy, sometimes it was great – but that’s tennis,” said Gauff.

The American fourth seed had struggled with her serve earlier in the week and was forced to battle back from a set down in her three previous matches en route to her first final since winning in Auckland at the start of the year.

But the 2023 US Open champion showed little sign of that fragility as she claimed a 6-1 6-3 win in one hour and 17 minutes.

Gauff jokingly put her improved form down to a visit to Beijing’s Forbidden City with men’s winner Carlos Alcaraz.

“I guess the Imperial Palace brought us luck, so maybe I will pay a visit next year to get the same luck,” she told an appreciative Chinese audience.

There was nothing lucky about the way the 20-year-old star rattled through the opening set in just 30 minutes, harrying her opponent into a series of unforced errors to claim two breaks of serve.

World number 49 Muchova, who was ranked as high as eighth before a lengthy lay-off with a wrist injury picked up at the 2023 US Open, had beaten top seed Aryna Sabalenka and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in previous rounds but was unable to match Gauff’s power and athleticism.

The 28-year-old had lost her two previous matches against the young American, including the final of last year’s Cincinnati Open, and suffered defeats in four of her previous five WTA finals.

However, Muchova started the second set more positively, opening a 2-0 lead after Gauff’s problems with her serve briefly resurfaced as she sent down two double faults to hand her opponent the early break.

But Gauff broke back immediately to start a run of four consecutive games.

Muchova eventually gifted her opponent victory by firing a backhand long with her 24th unforced error which, when compared to Gauff’s 24 winners, told the story of the match.

“I want to say congratulations to you, Karolina, it’s great to see you back on tour,” said Gauff in her post-match interview.

“I think you’re such an amazing player – you deserve everything and hopefully you play many more finals.”

Gauff also thanked her new coach Matt Daly, adding that “obviously things are going well”, after winning her first tournament under his guidance.

She ended her partnership with Brad Gilbert last month following her fourth-round exit at the US Open, where she failed to defend her crown.

Victory in the WTA 1,000 event in Beijing moved Gauff up to fourth place in the Race to the Finals, with the top seven qualifying for the season-ending tournament in Riyadh in November.

She now moves on to the Wuhan Open, which starts on Monday.

The 20-year-old American dug deep to come through 4-6 6-4 6-2.

Spaniard Badosa, ranked 19th in the world but a former world number two, had looked in a good position when she served at 4-3 up in the second set.

But Gauff broke and rattled off the next four games to set up a decider, eventually wrapping up victory in two hours and 21 minutes.

She will face Karolina Muchova in Sunday’s decider after the Czech player defeated home favourite and fifth seed Qinwen Zheng 6-3 6-4.

Zheng, the Olympic champion, needed medical treatment for a hand injury after taking a tumble during the opening set.

Although both players had their opportunities, it was Muchova, who reached last year’s French Open final but is now ranked 49 in the world after wrist surgery, who took advantage.

The win saw her avenge defeat by Zheng in the final in Palermo in July and reach a second career WTA 1000 final after Cincinnati last year, where she lost to Gauff.

Badosa, who was as low as 140th in the rankings in May, was on a good run of form in Beijing which included victory over second seed and US Open finalist Jessica Pegula in the last 16.

And she took advantage of Gauff’s inconsistencies, particularly on her serve which produced 11 double faults, to win the opening set and break in the first game of the second.

Gauff is working with new coach Matt Daly after ending her partnership with Brad Gilbert last month following her fourth-round exit at the US Open, where she was defending her title.

She saved four break points to avoid going 4-1 down in the second set and from then the momentum was with the American, who regained her composure as Badosa dropped her first set of the week.

Gauff broke three times in the decider to seal the win to reach her first final since she triumphed in Auckland in January.

“I tried to stay focused, it was tough but mentally I just tried to reset,” she said.

Third seed Gauff produced a disjointed performance to lose 6-3 4-6 6-3 to fellow American and 13th seed Navarro.

Gauff hit 19 double faults – including 11 in the third set alone – and produced three in the final game of the match to hand Navarro victory.

“I lost in the first round the last two years and now to be making the quarter-finals is pretty insane,” said Navarro.

“This is the city I was born in and it feels so special to be playing here.”

Gauff was comprehensively beaten by Navarro just two months ago in the last 16 at Wimbledon.

She said she would need to maintain her focus after “collapsing” mentally in their previous meeting – but frailties on serve, including three back-to-back double faults in the third set, and 60 unforced errors helped Navarro reach the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows for the first time.

Navarro will go on to play 26th seed Paula Badosa in the last eight after the Spaniard thrashed China’s Wang Yafan 6-1 6-2 earlier on Sunday.

“Coco is an amazing player,” Navarro added.

“I have a ton of respect for her and I know she’s going to come back here and win this thing again.”

Navarro’s victory ends Gauff’s bid to become the first woman to defend the US Open title since Serena Williams in 2014.

It also makes the 23-year-old the youngest American woman to reach the quarter-finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open in the same year since Williams in 2004.

‘Mentally and emotionally I gave it my all’

It was Navarro who made the brighter start, earning a break point in the opening game of the match after two double faults by Gauff in a sign of things to come.

Gauff recovered to hold, but some loose shots at 3-2 gave Navarro another break opportunity, and Gauff conceded with another double fault.

As Navarro secured the set, confidently holding to love after coming out on top of a 27-shot rally, a frustrated Gauff shrugged her shoulders and exchanged words with her coaching team.

Double faults continued to plague Gauff’s performance in the second set. Another at 3-3 offered Navarro a chance to break, which she took with a superb, dipping forehand winner down the line.

But this would signal a change in momentum as, sensing she was closing in on victory, Navarro suddenly struggled for rhythm, and Gauff immediately broke back.

Backed by the packed crowd, Gauff confidently held serve before breaking again to force a decider, cupping her ear in celebration and asking the crowd for more noise.

With the match evenly poised, it was the 20-year-old’s troubles on serve which would again prove the difference, with three double faults in a single game handing Navarro the break for a 2-1 lead.

Gauff’s remaining service games were punctuated by more errors, with three more double faults gifting a match point to Navarro, before a long forehand confirmed Navarro’s win.

“I fought really hard today. I just didn’t take care of my serve, so that was the biggest difference,” Gauff said.

“Mentally and emotionally I gave it my all. Of course, there were things execution-wise, where I wish I could serve better.

“I think if I would did that, it would have been a different story for me in the match.”

Navarro continues rapid rise

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Emma Navarro ended Coco Gauff’s 11-match winning streak in New York

Navarro will rise into the world’s top 10 as a result of the win over Gauff.

A notable college player, Navarro reached her first WTA Tour semi-final in 2023, but went one step further this year, lifting her maiden title in Hobart in January.

She has claimed some eye-catching wins, including over world number two Aryna Sabalenka at Indian Wells, before reaching the fourth round of the French Open.

She has now reached back-to-back Grand Slam quarter-finals, having lost to Jasmine Paolini at the same stage at Wimbledon in July.

“When I first left college, my coach and I kind of made a two-year contract that I would fully commit myself to playing professional tennis for two years and then reassess after that,” Navarro told the WTA website., external

“I think I hit the two-year mark this June, and we didn’t even acknowledge it or talk about it.

“I definitely have surpassed my expectations for sure.”

American third seed Gauff’s bid to become the first woman to defend the title since Serena Williams in 2014 is still alive after a hard-fought 3-6 6-3 6-3 victory.

“This win means a lot,” Gauff said. “I knew today was going to be a tough match. Every time I play Elina, she’s a fighter. I knew I had to bring my best tennis.”

She will face compatriot Emma Navarro after the 13th seed claimed a 6-4 4-6 6-3 win over Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk.

The two Americans met in the fourth round of Wimbledon this year, with Navarro causing a shock on Centre Court.

“I feel like that match at Wimbledon I think I mentally just literally collapsed on the court. I was very frustrated, and she played well,” said Gauff.

“I have to expect her to play her best tennis, and I just need to know that I need to bring it and mentally be there from the beginning to the end.”

Meanwhile, last year’s runner-up Aryna Sabalenka fought back from a set down to beat Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 2-6 6-1 6-2 in a match that finished at 1.49am local time in New York (06:49 BST).

The late-night finish was a result of Friday’s day session on Arthur Ashe Stadium filtering into the evening slot, with Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton playing out a five-set thriller before the men’s defending champion Novak Djokovic suffered a surprise defeat by Alexei Popyrin.

“Thank you all for staying that late guys. For real, you’re the best. I hope you’re going to get a good sleep,” said Sabalenka, who arrived on court after midnight.

“I was praying they’re were not going to play so long.

“It was tricky but I just stayed with my team, tried to relax and pretended that the match was going to be in five hours instead to chill.”

Svitolina sent the crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium into a nervous silence when she served out the first set after breaking for a 5-3 lead.

But it was Gauff who struck first in the second, converting her break point with a brilliant cross-court forehand winner.

With her confidence boosted and the crowd behind her, the 20-year-old American held serve twice more and let out a huge roar as she forced a decider.

Gauff’s momentum continued as she dominated Svitolina’s serve, breaking twice to surge into a 4-1 lead.

But she then failed to convert three match points while trying to serve out the match before eventually securing the win by breaking Svitolina to love in the next game, screaming to the crowd in delight.

Sabalenka, who replaced Gauff as number two in the world rankings earlier this month, also got off to a slow start.

Alexandrova, the 29th seed, earned two successive breaks in the first set before serving it out – much to Sabalenka’s frustration.

But the Belarusian regained her composure to break first in the second and it was plain sailing from there.

“She played incredible tennis in the first set, it was really tough to change that. I’m really happy I was able to turn it around,” Sabalenka said.

The Australian Open champion will face Belgium’s Elise Mertens, who won 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 6-4 against American 14th seed Madison Keys.

Badosa and Zheng reach fourth round

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Paula Badosa is a former world number two

Elsewhere in the women’s draw on Friday, Spaniard Paula Badosa saved a match point as she came from behind to beat Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse.

Badosa, seeded 26th, needed a match tie-break to book a spot in the fourth round for the first time with a 4-6 6-1 7-6 (10-8) victory.

The former world number two said she was playing “maybe at one of the best levels” of her career after an injury-hit year.

“It means so much, and after what I’ve been through the last year, for me it’s very special to already be on this level,” said Badosa, who has constant pain in her back after a stress fracture.

“At the beginning of the year I was obsessed – I wanted to have the comeback of the year, like no matter what.

“I’m back at the top. For me it means a lot because it’s where I want to be.”

Badosa, 26, will take on Wang Yafan next after the Chinese player overcame former world number one Victoria Azarenka 6-4 3-6 6-1.

Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen‘s bid for a first Grand Slam title remains on course after she cruised past German Jule Niemeier with a 6-2 6-1 victory.

Zheng will play Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vekic, who moved past American Peyton Stearns 7-5 6-4.

Gauff, 20, began her title defence with a 6-2 6-0 victory in just 66 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The American beat Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s final to win her first Grand Slam and followed that by reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open and French Open this year.

But she has struggled for form recently, losing in the third round of the Paris Olympics before suffering early exits at tournaments in Cincinnati and Toronto.

Gauff said the past few weeks have “been a little bit tough”, but she believed her performance against Gracheva was “the best tennis I have played in a while”.

She added that a fan’s comment on her TikTok account had helped change her perspective coming into the US Open.

“Someone commented on my TikTok saying you’ve won in life, literally and figuratively, and there’s no point in piling pressure on yourself on a victory lap,” Gauff said in her on-court interview.

“I’m just treating this tournament like that and if you defend something that means you won something.”

Gauff, who fired down 10 aces, broke Gracheva’s serve twice in the opening set and won the last nine games on her way to an emphatic victory.

She will face German veteran Tatjana Maria in the second round after the 37-year-old moved past Argentine qualifier Solana Sierra 6-2 6-3.

Second seed Sabalenka, one of the favourites for the title, beat Australia’s Priscilla Hon 6-3 6-3 in Monday’s night session on Louis Armstrong.

• Zheng tested but through to round two

Image source: Reuters

Image caption: Zheng Qinwen reached the Australian Open final at the start of the year, losing to Aryna Sabalenka

Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen fought back from a set down to beat world number 50 Amanda Anisimova 4-6 6-4 6-2 on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Anisimova raced out to a 5-1 first-set lead but twice failed to serve it out, before breaking Zheng for the third time to clinch the opener.

But Zheng, a little over three weeks on from her Olympic triumph in Paris, recovered well and served superbly from then on.

The Chinese seventh seed said it was the “typical match” she would have lost in the past, adding that victory was “one step forward in my mental side”.

“Usually after huge success I will get a little bit too high, and until the reality slap me down again and I come back to the ground,” Zheng said.

“So this time when I get a success, I’m telling myself, I don’t want to let this happen. I’m really happy to get this match, because she’s really tough to face.”

Australian teenager Iva Jovic pulled off the biggest upset of the opening day in New York, with the 16-year-old beating world number 40 Magda Linette 6-4 6-3 for her first WTA match win.

Meanwhile, France’s Clara Burel claimed an impressive comeback victory against 2017 champion Sloane Stephens.

Stephens won the first nine games of the match in 33 minutes but Burel somehow clawed her way back from a break down in both the second and third set before wrapping up a 0-6 7-5 7-5 win.

Burel will face three-time runner up Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, who beat Ukraine’s Yulia Starodubtseva 3-6 6-1 6-1.

Daria Kasatkina, the 12th seed, beat Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian 6-2 6-4 to progress, while Ukrainian 27th seed Elina Svitolina came through in three sets against Maria Lourdes Carle of Argentina.

Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova also progressed, beating Spanish qualifier Marina Bassols Ribera 7-6 (7-3) 6-2, while American 13th seed Emma Navarro beat Anna Blinkova 6-1 6-1 in just 59 minutes.

However, Maria Sakkari became the first top-10 player to fall, with the ninth seed forced to retire injured after losing the first set to Wang Yafan.

A visibly upset Sakkari received treatment from the trainer to her shoulder and neck midway through the first set, and was ultimately unable to continue into a second.

American 14th seed Madison Keys, runner-up at Flushing Meadows in 2017, moved past Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic 6-4 6-1.

Second seed Gauff was the highest-ranked player remaining, following Iga Swiatek’s surprise defeat by Yulia Putintseva on Saturday.

But the 20-year-old followed the world number one out of the door at SW19 after falling to a 6-4 6-3 defeat by 19th seed Navarro.

It meant there were just two top-10 players remaining in the women’s draw – fourth seed Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini, who is seeded seventh.

Wimbledon has been Gauff’s toughest Grand Slam to crack having never gone past the fourth round.

She has made it to the semi-finals of the Australian Open and Roland Garros, while she won her first major at last year’s US Open.

Navarro will play Italian Paolini, who is also into the Wimbledon last eight for the first time after a tearful Madison Keys retired with an injury in the deciding set of their match.

Navarro outplays Gauff for biggest career win

Gauff had breezed through the first three rounds at this year’s Championships, underlining her title credentials with commanding wins.

But in her first test against a player in the world’s top 20, unforced errors came to the fore while she struggled to deal with the variety of Navarro’s game.

The pair looked evenly matched in the first set, trading breaks before Navarro struck a decisive blow with a forehand winner at 5-4.

Despite being cheered on with chants of “let’s go Coco, let’s go”, Gauff couldn’t find a way back after her opponent broke for a 3-1 lead in the second.

“I don’t have a ton of words but just really grateful to be out here on Centre Court,” said Navarro, who sealed the biggest win of her career on her third match point.

“A tournament with so much history and tradition that so many legends have played on before – it’s a real honour.”

The win continued a breakthrough season for the Navarro, who is into the last eight of a Grand Slam for the first time.

The 23-year-old won her first WTA title at the Hobart International in January, while she also reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time at last month’s French Open.

Injured Keys’ retirement sends Paolini into last eight

American Keys, 29, was forced to stop with the score locked at 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 5-5 on Court One.

She appeared to pick up the injury when she hit a forehand while serving for victory at 5-2 in the final set.

Keys, 29, took a medical timeout at the change of ends when leading 5-4 and was treated before leaving the court.

The 12th seed reappeared with strapping high on her thigh and was clearly hampered by the injury.

Paolini, 28, broke again to level at 5-5 before Keys decided she could no longer continue.

“Right now I’m so sorry for her,” said Paolini. “To end the match like this is bad. What can I say?

“I think we played a really good match. It was tough, a lot of ups and downs. I’m feeling a bit happy but also sad for her. It’s not easy to win like that.”

French Open finalist Paolini had never won a match in the Wimbledon main draw before this year’s tournament.

After winning the first set, she trailed in the second 5-1 but rallied brilliantly to force a tie-break – which Keys eventually took on her fourth set point.

Keys established a big lead again in the decider before her injury dashed her dreams.

Elsewhere, Croatian Donna Vekic progressed to the last eight by overcoming Spaniard Paula Badosa in three sets.

The world number 37 won 6-2 1-6 6-4 in a rain-interrupted game on court two.

Vekic will play New Zealand’s Lulu Sun in the quarter-finals after her win over Briton Emma Raducanu.

American Gauff, 20, won her first major doubles title while her Czech partner claimed her eighth – and third in Paris.

Paolini fell to a second Grand Slam final defeat in as many days after she was beaten by world number one Iga Swiatek in the women’s final on Saturday.

Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic lifted the men’s doubles trophy on Saturday with a 7-5 6-3 win over Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori.

Gauff was playing with Siniakova for the first time at a major after usual partner Jessica Pegula withdrew before the tournament with injury.

She and Pegula previously reached the Paris final together in 2022.

“Thank you Katerina for playing with me – we decided to do it two days before the tournament started,” US Open singles champion Gauff said.

“It was very last minute. I wasn’t planning on playing doubles, so thank you for asking me.”

World number one Swiatek will face Italian 12th seed Jasmine Paolini in Saturday’s final.

Poland’s Swiatek, 23, broke Gauff in the first game of the match and, apart from briefly losing serve in the second set, retained control to win 6-2 6-4.

Third seed Gauff saved three match points before Swiatek closed out victory.

The 20-year-old American has now lost 11 of her 12 matches against the world number one.

“It was intense, especially in the second set but I’m happy,” said Swiatek.

“I stuck with my tactics, didn’t overthink things and just went for it.”

Paolini, 28, beat unseeded 17-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva 6-3 6-1 in the second semi-final on Thursday.

Gauff cannot end Swiatek hex

Whatever happened between Swiatek and Gauff, the pair were still going to leave Roland Garros as the leading two women’s players in the world rankings.

But the outcome again illustrated the gulf between them when they face each other.

US Open champion Gauff talked bullishly after beating three-time major finalist Ons Jabeur in the quarter-finals, saying she had “nothing to lose” and claimed the pressure was on Swiatek.

That is not how it panned out. Gauff looked overcome by nerves from the start and paid the price.

Trying to land heavily with her forehand in the rallies did not come off, with a stream of errors from that side doing a lot of the work for Swiatek.

Gauff made 18 unforced errors in a first set where Swiatek only needed to hit two winners and the American’s body language showed she was feeling the pressure.

After going for a bathroom break to gather her thoughts, Gauff had to dig deep to hold serve at the start of the second set before a row with umpire Aurelie Tourte over a line call sparked her into life.

An emotional Gauff appeared to wipe away tears between points in the next game – but the energy fuelled her into breaking Swiatek’s serve for a 3-1 lead.

However, Gauff could not consolidate and, although she showed more resistance towards the end, she has more problem-solving to do about how to end Swiatek’s hex.

Can Paolini stop Swiatek?

The question before the tournament was whether anyone could stop Swiatek becoming only the third woman to win three French Open titles in a row.

She is aiming to join Monica Seles (1990–1992) and Justine Henin (2005–2007) as the only women to achieve the feat in the Open era.

Only former world number Naomi Osaka, who had little previous form on clay and won her four majors on hard courts, has come close to stopping her.

Swiatek has gone up several gears since that titanic second-round contest – where she saved a match point before winning in three sets.

She did not drop a game in a 40-minute thrashing against Anastasia Potapova in the fourth round and made light work of 2019 finalist Marketa Vondrousova in the quarter-finals.

Paolini is the final player in Swiatek’s way after reaching a maiden major singles final with a powerful performance against Andreeva.

The late-blooming Italian’s run at Roland Garros is the latest surprise in a season where she has registered several career milestones.

Paolini had never previously gone beyond the second round in Paris, but has built on lifting the first WTA 1,000 title of her career in Dubai and earning notable wins over some established top-20 players.

After beating third seed Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals, she continued to use her powerful forehand to draw mistakes from 38th-ranked Andreeva.

The teenager, who was the youngest Grand Slam semi-finalist since Martina Hingis at the 1997 US Open, was visibly emotional as the second set ran away from her.

“I learned a bit later than other players maybe but to dream is the most important thing in sport and life. I’m happy I could dream this moment,” Paolini, who won the final five games of the match, said.

Top seed Swiatek, 23, broke in the first game of the match and, apart from briefly losing serve in the second set, retained control to win 6-2 6-4.

Third seed Gauff saved three match points before Poland’s Swiatek closed out victory.

The 20-year-old American has now lost 11 of her 12 matches against the world number one.

“It was intense, especially in the second set but I’m happy,” said Swiatek.

“I stuck with my tactics, didn’t overthink things and just went for it.”

Swiatek will face Italian 12th seed Jasmine Paolini or unseeded 17-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva in Saturday’s final.

Paolini, 28, and Andreeva meet in the second semi-final later on Thursday.

Gauff cannot end Swiatek hex

Whatever happened between Swiatek and Gauff, the pair were still going to leave Roland Garros as the best two women’s players in the world rankings.

But the outcome again illustrated the gulf between them when they face each other.

US Open champion Gauff talked bullishly after beating three-time major finalist Ons Jabeur in the quarter-finals, saying she had “nothing to lose” and attempted to put the pressure on her opponent.

That is not how it panned out. Gauff looked overcome by nerves from the start and paid the price.

Trying to land heavily with her forehand in the rallies did not come off, with a stream of errors from that side doing a lot of the work for Swiatek.

Gauff made 18 unforced errors in a first set where Swiatek only needed to hit two winners and the American’s body language showed she was feeling the pressure.

After going for a bathroom break to gather her thoughts, Gauff had to dig deep to hold serve at the start of the second set before a row with umpire Aurelie Tourte over a line call sparked her into life.

An emotional Gauff appeared to wipe away tears between points in the next game – but the energy fuelled her and led to her breaking Swiatek’s serve for a 3-1 lead.

However, Gauff could not consolidate and, although she showed more resistance towards the end, she has more problem-solving to do about how to end Swiatek’s hex.

Can Swiatek be stopped?

The question before the tournament was who could stop Swiatek becoming only the third woman to win three French Open titles in a row.

She is aiming to join Monica Seles (1990–1992) and Justine Henin (2005–2007) as the only women to achieve the feat in the Open era.

Only former world number Naomi Osaka, who had little previous form on clay and won her four majors on hard courts, has come close to stopping her.

Swiatek has gone up several gears since that titanic second-round contest – where she saved a match point before winning in three sets.

She did not drop a game in a 40-minute thrashing against Anastasia Potopova in the fourth round and made light work of 2019 finalist Marketa Vondrousova in the quarter-finals.

While Swiatek was not as dominant against Gauff in terms of the scoreline, there always felt very little prospect she would lose.

“Something changed [after the match against Osaka]. I just adjusted better to the court,” Swiatek said.

Polish world number one Swiatek has won 10 of their 11 previous meetings, including the past three and two matches at Roland Garros – the 2022 final and a quarter-final a year later.

Swiatek, 23, won the French Open in 2020, 2022 and 2023. She has not lost in 19 successive matches in the event and reached the final four this tournament by thrashing Marketa Vondrouvosa 6-0 6-2.

“She’s definitely a tough opponent for me and for anybody,” said 20-year-old American Gauff. “She’s playing great tennis here, so it’s going to be a challenge, but I’m going to go into the match with a lot of belief that I can win.

“I definitely think I have to find a better way to play her.”

Britain’s Neal Skupski and American Desirae Krawczyk will compete in their first French Open mixed doubles final as a partnership on Thursday.

They will face second seeds Laura Siegemund and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, of Germany and France respectively.

In the men’s wheelchair singles, Britain’s three-time champion Alfie Hewett plays two-time winner Argentine Gustavo Fernandez for a place in the final.

IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Image caption: Iga Swiatek (right) won the 2022 French Open final – the second of her four Grand Slam titles

‘It was easier to crack her’

Swiatek has won four Grand Slam titles and defeated Gauff 6-1 6-3 in the 2022 French Open final – the first Slam final of Gauff’s career.

Gauff won the US Open in 2023 and enjoyed her best run at the Australian Open this year, reaching the semi-finals before losing to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka.

Swaitek now sees the third-seeded Gauff as a tougher opponent than earlier in her career.

“Her mental game is a little bit better,” added Swiatek. “Before it was kind of easier to ‘crack her’, when you were leading. But it’s normal that she’s making progress. She’s at that age that everything goes pretty nicely, that if you’re working hard then you will get progress.

“She’s probably doing that, and probably every aspect of her game is a little bit better, because it’s different being a teenager on the tour and then being a more mature player.”

In response to Swiatek’s comments, Gauff said: “I don’t know if it’s something I actively worked on or if it’s just maturity over the years. You just get older and learn how to handle the pressures a little bit more.

“I don’t have a mental coach, but it is something I knew I had to improve and just be more positive.”

Paolini and Andreeva aim for first Slam final

In the other semi-final, Italian 12th seed Jasmine Paolini will face 17-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva.

Before this tournament, Paolini, 28, had only made it past the second round of a Slam on one occasion – the Australian Open earlier this year when she lost to Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya in the last 16.

But wins over Australian Daria Saville, American Hailey Baptiste, Canadian Bianca Andreescu and Russian Elina Avanesyan took Paolini into her first Slam quarter-final.

On Wednesday she defeated fourth seed Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, 6-2 4-6 6-4 to advance into the semi-finals.

With Jannik Sinner already through to the men’s final four, it is the first time an Italian man and woman have reached the semi-finals at the same Slam.

Neither Paolini nor Andreeva have played in a Slam final, with the teenager moving into the final four thanks to a come-from-behind 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-4 win to eliminate world number two Aryna Sabalenka on Wednesday.

Andreeva is set to move into the top 25 of the world rankings for the first time in what has been a fantastic 12 months for her.

She reached the last 16 at Wimbledon last summer and thrashed three-time Slam finalist Ons Jabeur on her way to the same stage at the Australian Open earlier this year.

Gauff, 20, showed her maturity and mentality to win 4-6 6-2 6-3 at Roland Garros on Tuesday.

The US Open champion will play Polish top seed Iga Swiatek, who beat her in the 2022 final, in the last four on Thursday.

Swiatek continued her bid for a third straight title with a 6-0 6-2 win over Czech fifth seed Marketa Vondrousova.

After a superb opening set from eighth seed Jabeur, Gauff continued to believe in her game and took advantage of her opponent’s level dipping.

Gauff was unable to convert a match point on Jabeur’s serve at 5-2 in the decider, and survived a break point at 5-3, before getting over the line when her opponent dumped an overhead long.

A passionate roar as Gauff celebrated in the middle of the court indicated the magnitude of the test she had come through.

“She’s a tough opponent,” said Gauff, who saw Jabeur save a second match point before missing on the third.

“I was trying to be more aggressive, she was playing really well and hitting a lot of winners – which I’m not used to.

“I got a little bit tight but I did what I needed to do.”

Boisterous atmosphere inspires Gauff

Gauff has followed up winning the Grand Slam title which her prodigious talent had long promised with another strong season on the WTA Tour.

Now, after reaching the Australian Open semi-finals in January, she has moved into the last four at a third successive major tournament.

She did it on the Paris clay by recovering from dropping a set for the first time this tournament.

Jabeur played superbly in the opening set, absorbing Gauff’s power from the baseline with her forehand and serving strongly to give her opponent little chance on return.

In a city with a huge Tunisian population, Jabeur always receives passionate support and her fans celebrated her winning the set by singing a popular football-style terrace chant.

Gauff said the atmosphere also inspired her.

“Whenever I’m not playing, I cheer for Ons too, so thank you guys for making it a great atmosphere. I like playing in atmospheres like this,” she told the crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier.

“I know you wanted her to win, but even when I was in the bathroom [after the first set] I was thinking ‘this is really fun, win or lose’.”

Three-time major finalist Jabeur has endured a tough season because of a niggling knee injury and struggled for form before rediscovering her level at Roland Garros.

However, the 29-year-old was unable to sustain the pressure she put Gauff under.

Struggling to land as many first serves, and beginning to make rash decisions in her returning, was costly as Gauff turned the match around.

“The quarter-finals is not bad. I’ll take it,” said Jabeur.

“I’m trying to be less hard with myself and be proud with the way I was fighting.”

Swiatek hands out another thrashing

The question coming into the clay-court major was: who can stop Swiatek at Roland Garros?

Nobody is any closer to answering it following another imperious performance from the 23-year-old world number one.

Since fighting past Naomi Osaka in the second round, Swiatek has gone up a gear.

Swiatek only needed 40 minutes to thrash Anastasia Potapova 6-0 6-0 in the last 16 and carried on where she left off with a 28-minute bagel against Vondrousova.

Vondrousova was the runner-up at Roland Garros in 2019 and is the reigning Wimbledon champion, but Swiatek operated on a different level.

After briefly coming under pressure on serve at 1-1 in the second set, Swiatek held for 2-1 and broke again for 3-1 on her way to teeing up another match against Gauff, who she also beat in the quarter-finals last year.

“Today it was pretty straightforward. I’m happy that I kept my focus. Sometimes I felt the game was pretty intense,” said Swiatek.

“Sometimes the intensity went down a bit. I wanted to just play my game no matter what was coming back from Marketa. I felt like I was in the zone today.”

Defending champion Novak Djokovic wrapped up a five-set victory against Lorenzo Musetti at 3:07am on Sunday at the French Open – by far the latest-ever finish at the clay-court Grand Slam.

It reopened the discussion around why matches are allowed to continue into the early hours and the impact on player welfare.

“I feel like a lot of times people think you’re done, but really at 3am [you’re] probably not going to bed until 5am at the earliest, maybe 6am or 7am,” said US Open women’s champion Gauff.

“I definitely think it’s not healthy.

“For the health and safety of the players, it would be in the sport’s best interest to try to avoid those matches finishing or starting after a certain time.”

In January, the ATP and WTA Tours jointly brought in a new rule which means no matches can start after 11pm.

However, the ruling has not been applied to the four majors, which make their own policies. Tour matches are also played over three sets, while men play best-of-five at the Grand Slams.

Iga Swiatek, the defending women’s champion, also called on the authorities to act.

“It’s not easy to play and it’s not like we’re going to fall asleep one hour after the match,” said the Polish world number one.

“[Change] is not up to us. We need to accept anything that is going to come to us.”

How did the late-night situation unfold?

The decision by the French Open to put Grigor Dimitrov’s unfinished match against Zizou Bergs on Court Philippe Chatrier before Djokovic and Musetti in the night session backfired.

That match, which was rained off on Friday, was moved to Chatrier when it looked like Alexander Zverev was going to wrap up a four-set victory against Tallon Griekspoor in the final match of the day session.

However, that went to five sets before Dimitrov, who restarted the match with a one-set advantage, needed four sets to beat Bergs.

It meant Djokovic and Italy’s Musetti, who should have started at 8:15pm local time, did not step on court until 10:37pm.

After sealing victory four-and-a-half hours later, Djokovic said he did not “want to get into” discussing the scheduling decision.

“I think some things could have been handled a different way but there’s also a beauty in winning a match [so late],” the 37-year-old Serb added.

“Physically, I really went to my limits to win this match.”

The French Open has been asked by BBC Sport for comment about the decision.

British doubles player Jamie Murray highlighted the knock-on effect of a late finish on a player’s recovery.

“You’re totally goosed the next day and then the day after that is a battle as well,” said Murray, whose brother Andy finished an Australian Open match last year at 4am.

“It won’t be easy for Novak to recover. It’s not like he’s 25 anymore.”

Djokovic, who plays Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo in the fourth round on Monday, was not down on the practice schedule for Sunday.

Belarusian second seed Sabalenka won 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 against American fourth seed Gauff in a tense semi-final.

Both were edgy in an error-strewn first set with six breaks before Sabalenka pounced decisively late in the second.

Sabalenka will face Zheng Qinwen or Dayana Yastremska in Saturday’s final.

Chinese 12th seed Zheng and Ukrainian qualifier Yastremska contest the second semi-final at Melbourne Park later on Thursday.

Sabalenka illustrates why she is title favourite

Anticipation for the contest between Sabalenka and Gauff at the opening Grand Slam of the season was high.

Both players had been impressive as they worked their way through the draw, setting up a rematch of their thrilling US Open final which 19-year-old Gauff edged in September to claim her first major title.

Sabalenka had been particularly dominant and, after showing resilience to recover from sticky spells against Gauff, still has not dropped a set over the past fortnight.

The 25-year-old Belarusian unleashed her explosive game on Gauff from the start, cracking 33 winners and attacking her opponent’s second serve in a high-octane demonstration of her power.

While Sabalenka’s style still often leads to errors, she seems more at ease at Melbourne Park this fortnight having the experience of lifting her first major title here.

Now, after keeping her composure to serve out victory, she is the first woman to reach back-to-back finals since Serena Williams in 2017.

“I think I was able to focus on myself and I was prepared for her moving really good and putting every ball back,” said Sabalenka, who has reached at least the semi-finals of the past six majors.

“I had to be ready to make an extra shot and I was ready for tonight.”

Gauff fulfilled what had long seemed her destiny by winning in New York when she fought back from a set down to beat Sabalenka.

This time she was unable to repeat the feat as Sabalenka ended her unbeaten start to the 2024 season.

Gauff came to Melbourne on the back of winning a WTA title in Auckland and did not drop a set in her opening four matches.

But, after scraping past Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in what she called a “bad” quarter-final, she looked extremely nervy in the early stages of the semi-final.

Gauff’s tension was illustrated by six double faults in the first set, although she also showed her ability to mentally reset as she twice recovered from being a breakdown.

After soaking up so much pressure, Gauff broke for 6-5 but blew the chance to serve out the set from 30-0 and was punished as Sabalenka dominated the tie-break.

Gauff had to fight off more break points in the first and sixth games of the second set, with the pressure telling when loose errors from the baseline allowed Sabalenka to break for 5-4.

This time, Sabalenka did not allow the opportunity to slip from her grasp and earned the “revenge” she wanted to exact on Gauff for her Flushing Meadows defeat.

“It was a tough match for me,” said Gauff, who looked close to tears while she left Rod Laver Arena.

“Overall it was a positive tournament. I had chances in both sets, but she played better. I think it just came down to a couple of points and that’s tennis.”

The Belarusian lost out in a thrilling US Open final in September after Gauff fought back from a set down to triumph.

Seeking to retain the title which represented her first major title 12 months ago, Sabalenka has been in devastating form in Melbourne.

“After the US Open, I really wanted that revenge,” said Sabalenka.

“It’s always a great battle against Coco, really great fights. I’m happy to play her and I’m super excited to play the semi-final match,” the 25-year-old added.

“She’s moving really well. Everything you do on the court is coming back. She’s a great player, and I’m really excited to play her.”

That match will begin at 08:30 GMT on Thursday on Rod Laver Arena and the winner is guaranteed to face a player who has never reached this far at a Grand Slam in Saturday’s showpiece, with Chinese 12th seed Zheng Qinwen and Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska contesting the biggest match of their respective careers in the day’s second semi-final.

Sabalenka’s revenge mission

After her US Open final loss to 19-year-old Gauff in New York, an emotional Sabalenka was seen smashing her racquet against the floor on the way back to the dressing room.

But the second seed has responded to that disappointment in emphatic fashion on her return to Grand Slam action in Melbourne, where she is yet to lose a set and has conceded just 16 games across five matches.

The longest Sabalenka has been kept on court is the 71 minutes it took to dismiss Czech ninth seed Barbora Krejcikova in the quarter-finals as she efficiently extended her winning streak at Melbourne Park to 12 matches.

She has now reached the semi-finals at her past six Grand Slam tournaments – and eight of her last 10 since reaching her first at Wimbledon in 2021 – a level of consistency at the sport’s top level which she has put down to a change in mindset.

“I’m not getting crazy on court, I’m not rushing things. I’m just playing point by point and that’s it, fighting for every point without overthinking about my dreams,” Sabalenka said.

“I just decided at some point I needed to figure out by myself how to start controlling myself better. I think that decision was the biggest decision for me and I started actually taking responsibility for everything I’m doing.”

Gauff landed her first Grand Slam title with her stunning comeback against Sabalenka to win 2-6 6-3 6-2 in New York, delivering on her potential in front of an expectant home crowd.

Entering her first major as a reigning Slam champion, the fourth seed cruised into the Australian Open last eight but scraped past Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in three sets to set up a tantalising semi-final.

The 19-year-old, who has won both Slam semi-finals she has contested, said she hoped to have “got the bad match out of the way” before preparing for a seventh meeting with Sabalenka, having won four of the previous six.

“You do feel like you’re the one to beat and I feel like people step on court and they play more free and want to play their best because there’s no pressure,” said Gauff, who finished runner-up at the 2022 French Open following her other previous semi-final appearance.

“I definitely feel a little change. But also, at the same time, when I was young nobody wanted to lose to a 15-year-old, so I felt people played really hard then too.

“I think there’s a quote, it’s not easy to get to the top, but easier to get to the top and harder to stay there. The goal is to stay here as long as possible and keep going upwards.”

Zheng and Yastremska will both be in uncharted territory when they follow Sabalenka and Gauff’s rematch on Thursday.

The 21-year-old Zheng, set to move into the world’s top 10 following her comeback quarter-final win over unseeded Russian Anna Kalinskaya, is through to the last four at a Slam for the first time – 10 years after compatriot Li Na triumphed in Melbourne.

But while Zheng also reached the last eight at the US Open, Yastremska’s previous best performance at a major was a run to the Wimbledon fourth round in 2019.

Yastremska, 23, is the first qualifier to reach the Australian Open semi-finals in the women’s draw in 46 years and will start as underdog with a rank of 93.

“It’s nice to make history. It’s something new for me and for my generation because the last time it happened it was a long time ago,” Yastremska said.

After setting up their semi-final encounter, Zheng said: “It doesn’t matter if she comes from qualifying. Right now, the people who arrive to the semi-finals, they all have a super level in this tournament.”

Sabalenka’s 6-2 6-3 win confirmed a repeat of September’s thrilling US Open final, in which Gauff came back from a set down to win a first major title.

Gauff, 19, scraped past Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in three sets in Melbourne.

The American made 51 unforced errors but won 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (4-7) 6-2.

Belarusian Sabalenka, who claimed her maiden singles Slam triumph on Rod Laver Arena 12 months ago, hit 20 winners and broke Czech 2021 French Open champion Krejcikova’s serve six times in a devastating quarter-final display.

That was in sharp contrast to last-four opponent Gauff’s victory, with the fourth seed saying she hopes to have “got the bad match out of the way” as she aims to become the first women’s player since Naomi Osaka three years ago to win back-to-back majors.

The other two quarter-finals in a women’s singles draw blown open by a string of high-profile early exits take place on Wednesday.

One of China’s Zheng Qinwen, Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya, Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska and Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova – none of who have ever played in a Grand Slam semi-final – will meet Gauff or Sabalenka in Saturday’s showpiece.

Sabalenka continues to shine

Sabalenka could not have wished for a much smoother Australian Open title defence to this point.

The 25-year-old is yet to drop a set at Melbourne Park this fortnight, conceding just 16 games in five matches on her way to the last four and not losing more than three games in any single set.

She took just 71 minutes to dismiss ninth seed Krejcikova – the longest she has been kept on court at this year’s tournament – before she prepares to exact revenge on Gauff.

The second seed was already up a double break in the opening set by the time Krejcikova landed a first blow, momentarily reducing the deficit to 4-2 before a fired-up Sabalenka struck for a third time.

There was little Krejcikova could do to delay Sabalenka as she again trailed 4-1 in the second set, earning one break back before falling to the first of three match points on her serve.

“I think it was a really great match today. I played really great tennis,” said Sabalenka.

“I really hope that I can keep playing that way, or even better.”

Unbeaten in her last 12 matches in Melbourne, Sabalenka has now reached the semi-finals at her past six Grand Slams, becoming the first player to achieve that feat since Serena Williams made 10 in a row between 2014-17.

Gauff falters but finds a way through

Gauff had breezed into the Australian Open last eight with a series of clinical and composed performances but her display against world number 37 Kostyuk – the highest-ranked player she has faced so far – was far from convincing.

Both players looked tight and tense in a match where they made 107 unforced errors in a total of 246 points.

Gauff, who hit just 17 winners in comparison to her 51 unforced errors, fought back from 5-1 down in the first set but failed to serve out the second.

The three-hour contest featured 16 breaks of serve and Gauff took nine of them, including three in the decider, to progress.

“I think it was definitely a ‘C’ game – I didn’t play my best tennis but really proud that I was able to get through the match,” said Gauff, who had never previously gone beyond the fourth round in Melbourne.

“Hopefully I got the bad match out of the way and I can play even better.”

The teenager has looked a different proposition over the past six months, playing with more confidence and trust in her ability under the guidance of renowned coach Brad Gilbert.

Showing more faith in her previously shaky forehand has been a key factor in her renaissance after a chastening first-round exit at Wimbledon last year, since when Gauff, unbeaten at the start of the 2024 season, has lost only four matches.

But that old failing reappeared – particularly in a second set in which Gauff admitted she became “became a little bit passive” – and she had to dig deep to find a way past Kostyuk.

Kostyuk, 21, was playing in her first major quarter-final and says she is “proud” of a run she hopes will remind people of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“I was texting with some people from [Ukrainian capital city] Kyiv. I said ‘How is it? How are you guys?’ They said ‘Well, we were looking between your score and where the missiles are flying,” Kostyuk said.

“It’s very exhausting to live in this state. The war is still there. It’s not gone.”

The 19-year-old American booked her spot in the last eight by sweeping past Poland’s Magdalena Frech 6-1 6-2.

“I’ve lived so many lives in the last four years that I just feel older than 19,” US Open champion Gauff said.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka continued her own serene progress by beating Amanda Anisimova 6-3 6-2.

Gauff and 25-year-old Sabalenka remain on course to meet in the Melbourne last four, which would give the Belarusian an opportunity to avenge her defeat in the US Open final.

After bursting on to the scene as a 15-year-old at Wimbledon in 2019, Gauff fulfilled her long-heralded potential by landing a first Grand Slam title in New York.

Now, in her final major tournament as a teenager, she is the second favourite at the Australian Open behind second seed Sabalenka.

“Sometimes I forget my age. I know I’m not going to be a teenager any more,” said Gauff, who is the youngest player to reach the Melbourne quarter-finals since Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska.

“When I’m looking at the other girls on tour who are 16, 17, and now coming up, they just feel so young and I feel so old.

“I know I’m not that old, but I definitely do forget my age a lot.”

Gauff, who has not faced another seed, will play Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk next, while Sabalenka faces either 16-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva or Czech ninth seed Barbora Krejcikova.

Neither Gauff or Sabalenka have dropped a set at the first Grand Slam tournament of the 2024 season.

Seeds falling but Gauff storms on

Seeded players have been falling quickly in the women’s singles, with only four of the top 16 left after the first week and just seven remaining in total.

Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, seeded 18th, is the only Grand Slam champion left in the top half of the draw after world number one Iga Swiatek’s shock third-round defeat on Saturday.

Gauff, 19, ensured she did not face the same fate with a clinical and composed performance against Frech, who was competing in the last 16 of a major for the first time.

The American broke serve in the first game on and allowed Frech to win just 10 more points in a 26-minute set.

Two more breaks of serve followed in the second set as Gauff breezed through without facing a break point.

In her first Melbourne quarter-final, she will face Kostyuk after the world number 37 easily beat Russian qualifier Maria Timofeeva 6-2 6-1.

Gauff said she was “not too nervous” to play in front of the great Rod Laver – because she was already well on the way to victory when the 11-time major champion arrived on the court named after him.

“Luckily I was up a lot when I noticed he came in,” joked Gauff, who thanked the 85-year-old Australian for coming to her match.

Sabalenka moves on – with new superstition

Sabalenka has been in similarly devastating form, dropping just six games in her opening three matches, and produced another dominant display against 22-year-old Anisimova.

She had lost her four past meetings with the American but needed just 70 minutes to seal victory at Melbourne Park.

The 25-year-old has developed a new superstition this week – signing her fitness coach’s head with a pen before each match.

“I did it before the first match,” she said. “Now it’s a routine.

“Every time he’s not super happy that I’m going to do that. He’s like, ‘OK, anything for the win’.”

The US Open champion triumphed 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-3 to record her seventh win in eight career WTA singles finals so far.

Nineteen-year-old Gauff has now won 29 of her past 33 singles matches.

Elsewhere, Elena Rybakina claimed the Brisbane International title with a dominant straight-set win over Aryna Sabalenka.

The match was a repeat of last year’s Australian Open final, in which Sabalenka fought back from a set down to win her first major title, but on this occasion, Rybakina swept the Belarusian aside 6-0 6-3.

An emotional Grigor Dimitrov clinched his first title for six years by beating Danish top seed Holger Rune 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in the men’s final.

In the men’s doubles final, Briton Lloyd Glasspool and Dutch team-mate Jean-Julien Rojer won a match tie-break to prevail 7-6 (7-3) 5-7 12-10 against German top seeds Tim Putz and Kevin Krawietz.

The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year, starts in Melbourne on 14 January.

Qualifying for the tournament begins on Sunday, with Harriet Dart and Heather Watson among eight British players aiming to join Katie Boulter, Jodie Burrage, Emma Raducanu, Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans, Andy Murray and Jack Draper in the main draw.

However, Liam Broady will not compete after the 30-year-old withdrew from qualifying following an MRI scan, which revealed two bone stresses in his ankle.

Gauff overcomes tough test to retain title

Gauff has never made it beyond the fourth round at the Australian Open but her form approaching this year’s opening major suggests she is ready to improve that record in 2024.

The teenager fulfilled the Grand Slam-winning potential she had shown since bursting on to the scene as a 15-year-old at Wimbledon in 2019 by clinching her maiden success at her home major in September.

She had only dropped 15 games in her four matches in Auckland prior to Sunday’s final, while her nine-match winning run at the tournament had been achieved without dropping a set.

A meeting with second seed Svitolina proved a much sterner test for Gauff – although it was one she would come through with admirable composure.

The Ukrainian, ranked 25th in the world just nine months after returning from maternity leave, clinched the tie-break at the end of an opening set in which Gauff squandered two set points when leading 5-4.

That was the first set Gauff had lost in two editions of the tournament – and it would be the last.

The American broke Svitolina’s serve three times in an impressive second-set response, before a single break in the eighth game of the decider allowed her to serve out for the title.

“This was my first time ever having to defend a title so I’m really happy I was able to do that today,” Gauff said.

“I’d like to congratulate Elina and your team on an incredible week. What you do, being a mum, coming back so fast and at such a high level is inspiring.”

Joking, she added: “Hopefully – not any time soon – I’ll be able to do it like you did.”

Rybakina strikes blow before Australian Open

Sabalenka entered the Brisbane final on a 15-match winning streak in Australia yet the world number two was no match for the fourth-ranked Kazakh, who issued a serious statement before this year’s first major.

Neither player had lost a set in their run to the final but Rybakina took charge in dominant fashion from the outset on Sunday.

The 24-year-old swiftly took the opening set – without any reply from her Belarusian opponent – in just 25 minutes with three successive breaks of serve.

Sabalenka conceded another break to trail 2-0 in the second set but the former world number one halted the run of games against her by breaking back in the third game.

Any hope of a fightback was soon extinguished by Rybakina, who immediately restored her two-game advantage before serving out a comprehensive victory.

It also meant Rybakina cut Sabalenka’s lead in their head-to-head record to 5-3 as the year’s first Grand Slam looms.

“Despite the score, it’s always tough to play against you,” Rybakina told Sabalenka after being presented with the trophy.

“We always push each other and I think that’s great. We improve this way, so hopefully we continue.”

Gauff, 19, who is seeded third, won the first seven games before an hour-long rain delay in Cancun, Mexico.

When play resumed, the American quickly wrapped up a 6-0 6-1 victory for her 50th win of the season.

In the other Group B game, Iga Swiatek came back from 5-2 down in the opening set to defeat Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 7-6 (7-3) 6-0.

The Pole, who is aiming to regain her world number one ranking from Aryna Sabalenka, struggled early on.

Czech Vondrousova, who is appearing at the season-ending Finals for the first time, twice served for the first set but Swiatek took control of the match and her opponent was unable to respond.

“Even in the first part of the match I wasn’t feeling like I was playing bad,” said Swiatek. “I just felt like I was making mistakes on the last shots within the rally. I felt that there was room for improvement, but I didn’t need to change a lot. So I just wanted to be more precise and more solid.”

The WTA Finals sees the world’s eight best players this season split into two groups of four. After the round-robin matches, the top two in each group move through to Sunday’s semi-finals.

Gauff is playing in her first tournament since parting company with coach Pere Riba after the recent China Open.

“Unfortunately, it wasn’t my decision,” said the teenager. “But we had to end the partnership. If it was up to me, I would have loved to have him here. But you know, things happen. Life happens. So no bad terms on our end.

“Sometimes people think it’s bigger than what it is. But some things just didn’t work out and that’s all. I still think that he was a great guy. And obviously, he did amazing things for me personally and also for my game. So I’m sure he’s going to be successful in his next step.”

Gauff and Swiatek will face each other on Wednesday.

Gauff, seeded sixth, started slowly in front of an expectant home crowd but grew in confidence to wear down second-seed Sabalenka in New York.

Gauff, 19, clinched a 2-6 6-3 6-2 win on a delirious Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I feel like I’m in a little bit of shock at the moment,” Gauff said.

“I feel like God puts you through tribulations and trials and that makes this even sweeter,” added the American, who lost in her only other major singles final at the 2022 French Open.

“I’m thankful for this moment. I don’t have any words.”

Australian Open champion Sabalenka, meanwhile, must wait for a second major title.

The 25-year-old Belarusian can at least console herself with the knowledge she will become the world number one for the first time.

Gauff will rise to a career-high third when the latest rankings are released on Monday – but claiming her first major at her home Grand Slam is what really matters.

When sealing victory with a backhand winner on her first championship point, Gauff immediately fell on to the court and laid on the sideline with her hands covering her face.

Almost the whole 24,000 crowd, which provided boisterous support throughout as they willed Gauff to victory, erupted in a frenzied celebration.

Gauff, overcome with emotion, made a heart sign to the fans before going up to the stands to see her parents Corey and Candi.

All three hugged and jumped in a circle as the family’s sacrifices and hard work had resulted in one of the sport’s biggest prizes.

Asked to describe that moment, a laughing Gauff said: “When I hugged my dad, I didn’t see him, because he went immediately for the embrace – but I heard him crying.

“I have never seen that man cry in my life. My mum, I knew she was going to cry regardless if I won or lost.

“Honestly [I was thinking] nothing. The whole time I was saying to myself, ‘Oh my goodness, how is this real?”

From teenage phenomenon to Grand Slam champion

Since Gauff burst on to the scene as a 15-year-old phenomenon at Wimbledon in 2019, there have been expectations she would eventually become a Grand Slam champion.

Now, following a significant but steady rise as she got to grips with the professional tour, she has become the first American teenager to win the US Open since Serena Williams in 1999.

What makes it more remarkable is the way Gauff has turned her form around after a deflating first-round exit at Wimbledon in July.

Gauff has restored confidence in her groundstrokes, as well as developing an unwavering belief she can still turn matches around even when she is not playing well.

That was the key to grinding her way back into contention against Sabalenka.

Gauff’s forehand has come under scrutiny and Sabalenka particularly attacked that wing in the early stages when she broke on the way to a 2-1 lead.

Both players were unable to find their best level in a strange first set, the pair exchanging three more breaks of serve before Sabalenka sealed the opener with Gauff not offering enough consistency in the rallies.

After needing to save two break points in the first game, Gauff improved considerably in the second set.

She defended the baseline with incredible athleticism and anticipation, returning much better to force Sabalenka into mistakes.

A double fault from the Belarusian on a break point handed over a 3-1 lead, with Gauff growing in confidence to close out the set and level.

Momentum continued with Gauff in the deciding set, two early breaks putting the teenager in command before she confidently served out to love.

It was the third time over the past fortnight – following an opening win against German qualifier Laura Siegemund and a third-round victory over Belgian 32nd seed Elise Mertens – where she has fought back to win.

“Definitely she was moving just unbelievable,” said Sabalenka, whose 46 unforced errors outweighed 24 winners.

“The second set I start probably overthinking and because of that I started losing my power. Then she started moving better and I started missing a lot of easy shots.

“The good news is that it’s me against me. The bad one is that I’m still having these issues playing against myself.”

‘I’m burning so bright now’ – Gauff tells doubters

Gauff’s victory is the culmination of an outstanding North American hard-court swing, where she won the biggest titles of her career in Washington and Cincinnati.

Since the Wimbledon defeat, she has recovered by winning 18 of her 19 matches and beating Sabalenka is a career-best 12th victory in a row.

“I want to say ‘thank you’ to the people who didn’t believe in me,” Gauff said.

“A month ago I won a WTA 500 title [in Washington] and people said I would stop at that.

“Two weeks ago I won a 1000 title [in Cincinnati] and people were saying that was the biggest title I would get.

“Three weeks later, I’m here with this trophy right now.

“I tried my best to carry on with grace but, honestly, to those who thought you were putting water on my fire, you were really adding gas to it.

“I’m burning so bright right now.”

‘A star is born’ and ‘a great champion’ – reaction

There was no shortage of praise for Gauff following her breakthrough victory in front of a raucous New York crowd, with those present at Arthur Ashe Stadium and many others watching on from afar celebrating the teenager’s triumph.

Among them was former US president Barack Obama, who congratulated her on social media, adding: “We couldn’t be prouder of you on and off the court – and we know your best is yet to come.”

Compatriot and 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens called Gauff “amazing”, while boxing legend Mike Tyson said: “Coco! You did it! America and the world are celebrating!”

Commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, American former player Jeff Tarango said: “How eloquent she was when she was talking [in her post-match interview]. She’s the perfect poster-child. A star is born.”

And former British number one Annabel Croft added: “I think people expected a lot from her and she’s had to cope with enormous amounts of pressure. It was unusual to hear her have a little bit of a pop back at people but I think it also showed there is steel there in her character, which is why she’s become a great champion.”

The 19-year-old, appearing in her second major singles final, is the youngest American finalist in New York since Serena Williams in 1999.

Belarusian Sabalenka, who will become the new number one on Monday, is aiming for a second major title of the year after her Australian Open triumph.

The winner will earn $3m (£2.4m).

Gauff leads the head-to-head, having won three of their five meetings on the WTA Tour.

However, fellow first-time US Open finalist Sabalenka won their most recent match, a 6-4 6-0 victory at Indian Wells earlier this year.

Gauff is on an 11-match winning streak heading into the final, and has won 17 of her 18 matches since a first-round exit at Wimbledon.

She registered an impressive straight-set win over Czech 10th seed Karolina Muchova in the semi-finals – despite a 49-minute mid-match delay caused by climate protesters.

“After Wimbledon, I wasn’t expecting to do well in this hard-court season. I’m really proud of the way I have been able to turn this season around,” Gauff said.

“I have just been focusing on myself. I believe that I have the maturity and ability to do it.

“Regardless of what happens on Saturday, I’m really proud of how I have been handling the last few weeks.”

Gauff prepared for her home Slam by claiming her two biggest titles to date at Washington and Cincinnati in August and will now look to go one better than her 2022 French Open final defeat by Iga Swiatek.

Should Gauff win, she will also earn 2,000 ranking points, which would lift her to a career-high of third in the world.

Sabalenka will keep fighting ‘no matter what’

Sabalenka’s climb to world number one is the culmination of the best year of her career, one in which she delivered a long-awaited Grand Slam singles title after a string of semi-final defeats.

Following her Australian Open triumph she suffered narrow defeats in the semi-finals of the French Open and Wimbledon, but avoided the same fate in New York with a stunning comeback from 6-0 5-3 down against Madison Keys on Thursday.

It was the first time Sabalenka had dropped a set at this year’s tournament.

But she won 14 of the last 19 points to close out victory, even managing to refocus after celebrating prematurely when she reached seven points in the first-to-10 match tie-break.

On Saturday, she will attempt to become the first woman to win both hard court Slams in the same year since Angelique Kerber in 2016.

“I think the Australian Open final will definitely help, with all those emotions I went through in that final,” Sabalenka added.

“I’ll be different in this final. I know which kind of emotions to expect. I know how to handle them.

“Going into this final, I think I just have to focus on myself and prepare myself for another fight.

“No matter what, just keep fighting and keep playing my best and do my best. What else can you do? You just have to be there and you have to fight for it.”

Gauff, 19, wrapped up a 6-4 7-5 win over Muchova and will face second seed Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s final.

Four protesters chanting for the end of fossil fuels had interrupted the Gauff-Muchova match for 49 minutes.

One man glued his feet to the floor on Arthur Ashe Stadium with some chants of “kick them out” towards the protesters.

Security escorted three out but it took longer to the remove the fourth. The United States Tennis Association said all four were in New York Police Department custody.

The drama was confined to the tennis court in the second semi-final where Australian Open champion Sabalenka dug deep to beat Madison Keys 0-6 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (10-5) and prevent an all-American showpiece in New York.

It will be sixth seed Gauff’s second attempt to win a Grand Slam singles final after finishing runner-up to Poland’s Iga Swiatek at the 2022 French Open.

Gauff could not convert a match point when serving at 5-4, but broke Czech 10th seed Muchova to seal victory after winning a 40-shot rally to create the sixth opportunity.

Gauff raised her fist after clinching the win, signalling her defiance and fight, as the home crowd erupted.

After letting out another roar of celebration, she made a heart sign to the fans as a thank you for helping her get over the line.

Ultimately, the way Gauff finally secured victory was testament to her own resolve and a mental fortitude which she says has developed over a successful North American hard-court season.

“Some of those points it was so loud, I don’t know if my ears will be OK. Please be louder – this is crazy,” Gauff told the crowd in her on-court interview.

“I grew up watching this tournament, it feels so special. But the job is not done.”

Gauff within touching distance of destiny

Ever since Gauff burst on to the scene as a 15-year-old phenomenon in 2019, she has been heralded as a future major champion.

Now she has earned another opportunity to reach the pinnacle of her sport while still a teenager after a gutsy win over Muchova at Flushing Meadows.

Gauff, who turned 19 in March, is the youngest American woman to reach her home Grand Slam final since Serena Williams in 1999.

It comes after she has enjoyed the best period of her career on the North American hard-court swing.

Winning her biggest singles titles in Washington and Cincinnati was the perfect preparation for the US Open and she has continued to thrive in front of expectant home crowds in New York.

Gauff made a fast start against a tight-looking Muchova, who was aiming to reach her second major singles final after also being beaten by Swiatek at the French Open this year.

A slew of mistakes from Muchova contributed heavily to a 5-1 deficit and once she settled – which enabled her to pose questions of Gauff’s forehand – fought back to 5-4.

However, a poor service game from the Czech gifted the opening set to Gauff – and the drama of the protest came shortly afterwards.

The players were taken off court after the first game of the second set because one of the protesters, who were wearing Extinction Rebellion T-shirts, glued themselves to the floor.

“I just treated it like a rain delay,” Gauff told ESPN.

“The only thing which was harder was that we had to leave the court and didn’t know if it would be five minutes or an hour.”

After the protesters were finally removed by police, the players resumed the match nearly 50 minutes after the previous point.

The pair continued to hold serve in the second set until what had slowly developed into a gripping contest suddenly burst further into life.

Gauff broke for 5-4 but, like in the first set, could not serve out and needed to show all of her will to get over the line.

Sabalenka unsure how she ‘came through’ stressful semi-final

With most of the focus on Gauff, Sabalenka had been quietly and efficiently getting on with business.

The 25-year-old, who will become the new world number one after the tournament, had not dropped a set on her way to the last four but had to find a different way to win against Keys.

Keys, who was the runner-up in 2017, showed her pin-point quality from the baseline and hit an array of winners in a one-sided opening set.

By contrast, Sabalenka was spraying the ball and produced a series of unforced errors to benefit her opponent.

Sabalenka had won only one of her previous six Grand Slam semi-finals, including defeats when she held leads at this year’s French Open and Wimbledon.

Flinging a racquet towards her team early in the second set illustrated her frustration and her body language throughout indicated her stress levels.

But she showed extraordinary determination to fight back and earn what must be one of the most satisfying wins of her career.

Keys served for the match at 5-4 in the second set, but she was broken to love as Sabalenka won 12 points in a row to turn the tide.

Although Keys regained composure to save two set points at 6-5, Sabalenka dominated the tie-break to force the decider.

The pair battled for supremacy in a tense third set, exchanging breaks in the seventh and eighth games, leading to the first-to-10 match tie-break.

Sabalenka thought she had won at 7-3 – like she would in a normal tie-break – and had to regain focus to reach the US Open final for the first time.

“Somehow, I don’t know how, I turned around this match and it really means a lot to be in the US Open final for the first time,” she said.

Sixth seed Gauff, 19, plays Czech 10th seed Karolina Muchova in Thursday’s women’s semi-finals in New York.

Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka, yet to drop a set, meets American Madison Keys in the other semi-final.

“I have the mentality that I still have another two weeks to play,” Gauff said.

“I think that’s what I learned in the past of being in quarter-finals – before I would think I’m close to the end.

“Then obviously when it’s over, it’s over.”

Gauff has enjoyed the best period of her career on the North American hard-court swing, coming into the US Open on the back of winning her biggest singles titles in Washington and Cincinnati.

She has continued to thrive in front of expectant home crowds, going one better than her quarter-final run at Flushing Meadows last year.

“I think what’s helping is playing from [Washington] DC to Montreal to Cincinnati, that was a long swing,” said Gauff.

“I think doing well in those tournaments built my mental endurance. I always had the physical endurance but it built my mental endurance.”

The improvements were evident at the US Open when she came from behind to beat German qualifier Laura Siegemund in the first round and Belgian 32nd seed Elise Mertens in the third.

“When you’re confident and clear in what you’ve got to do out there, it puts your mind at ease,” Jarmere Jenkins, part of Gauff’s new coaching team, told BBC Sport.

“Before I feel she was going out there and hoping to play well. Now she is going into a match thinking: ‘I’ve got this if I play well or even if I don’t’.

“She doesn’t always have to play great to win a match, a lot of matches she has won not playing her best tennis – but the best is going to come.”

Sabalenka ‘learning not losing’ from tough exits

With most of the focus on Gauff, Sabalenka has been quietly and efficiently getting on with business in New York.

The 25-year-old, who won her maiden major singles title at the Australian Open in January, has not dropped a set on her way to the last four.

She is aiming for a first US Open final appearance, having reached the semi-finals for the third successive year.

Sabalenka lost to Muchova from a commanding deciding-set lead in this year’s French Open semi-finals, a tournament where she skipped open news conferences to protect her mental health and faced questions about Belarus’ involvement in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

She also lost from a set up against Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in the Wimbledon semi-finals.

Bouncing back to reach the New York last four means she is the first women’s player to make the semi-finals of all four majors in the same season since Serena Williams in 2016.

“I had a couple of really tough losses this year, but we’re not losing: we’re learning,” Sabalenka said.

“I have really strong belief that all those tough matches I lost will help me in the future in other tough matches, other tough battles.

“I’m super proud of myself and my team that we have been able to adjust to different conditions, different courts. We were able to bring this consistency in my game. It’s unbelievable.”

The players trying to stop them

Muchova, 27, is aiming for a second Grand Slam final of the season after letting a deciding-set lead slip against Swiatek at the French Open.

Seeded 10th at the US Open, the Czech has enjoyed a renaissance this year after overcoming a series of injuries which threatened to end her career in 2022.

Muchova has already played Gauff on the US hard courts recently, losing in straight sets in the Cincinnati final.

Asked about her mentality before facing Gauff again, Muchova said: “I’m trying to keep things pretty easy and not put too many expectations on me.

“The key to the match for me is playing my own game. I don’t really want to say all the tactics, I’ll just focus on myself and try to bring the best out of me.

“I always feel that I’m a tough cookie in life as well. That helps with tennis.”

Keys, seeded 17th, is aiming for a return to the final after losing to fellow American Sloane Stephens in 2017.

After beating Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the last four, 28-year-old Keys thanked the home crowd for helping her feel she could “get out of any situation”.

Keys will be hoping to channel the support when she meets Sabalenka, who beat her in straight sets at Wimbledon two months ago.

“In the second set at Wimbledon, I was up a break and I had chances. I was definitely in the match and had opportunities,” said Keys.

“I think even though I lost that match, it wasn’t like I wasn’t in the match and had no idea what I was doing out there.

“There are a lot of positives I can take out of that match and try to implement.”

Gauff won 6-0 6-2 in 67 minutes against Latvian 20th seed Ostapenko to record her best run at the tournament.

The 19-year-old will now face French Open runner-up Karolina Muchova for a place in the final.

“I think the problem in the past in Grand Slams is that I would emotionally be drained,” sixth seed Gauff said.

“Now I’m physically fresh and emotionally fresh, and I think that just came from experience.”

Another victory would put Gauff into the second major singles final of her career, matching her run at the 2022 French Open when she was beaten by Poland’s Iga Swiatek.

There has been a different aura about Gauff following a successful North American hard-court swing where she won two of the WTA Tour’s biggest titles in Washington and Cincinnati.

Since a chastening first-round exit at Wimbledon, Gauff has turned her form around with the help of new coach Pere Riba and consultant Brad Gilbert.

The teenager has won 16 of her 17 matches since losing at the All England Club in early July.

Gilbert, who has coached Andy Murray and Andre Agassi among others in a successful career, has been the focus of a lot of the attention and Gauff credited him for helping her enjoy her tennis more.

“I wish I embraced the fun parts a little bit sooner,” said Gauff, who was left in tears when Ostapenko beat her in the Australian Open fourth round earlier this year.

“I thought to play and win you have to be ultra serious and ultra focused, which that is true, but also you still have to enjoy it.

“I think that’s what’s been the change is that I’m having more fun.

“One of the first things Brad said is ‘you need to smile more’, it wasn’t really anything with my game.

“That’s something I’m trying to work on and continuing to do, and obviously I think it’s helping my results.”

Ostapenko criticises ‘crazy’ scheduling

Gauff had seen three of her first four matches at this year’s US Open go to a deciding set, including her comeback wins against Germany’s Laura Siegemund in the first round and Belgium’s Elise Mertens in the third round.

Following a much quicker win over Ostapenko, Gauff she was “proud” of coming through what she described as “one of the harder runs” she has faced at Flushing Meadows.

After only nine minutes of action in Tuesday’s opening match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Gauff had raced into a 3-0 lead with a double break of serve.

Ostapenko, who knocked out world number one Swiatek in the last 16, made 10 unforced errors as her boom or bust approach malfunctioned.

After dropping only seven points in a 20-minute first-set demolition, Gauff broke Ostapenko’s serve in the first game of the second set.

Ostapenko did immediately break back for her first game of the match, only for Gauff to regain control a few minutes later and quickly turn a 2-1 lead into victory.

Afterwards, 26-year-old Ostapenko complained about the scheduling of the match, which started at 12:00 local time on Tuesday.

Her victory over Swiatek was completed just before midnight on Sunday and the Latvian said she had been told to expect a late start against Gauff.

US Open organisers denied that had been the case.

“When the schedule came out, I saw I’m playing first match and was like ‘wow, that’s a little bit strange scheduling’,” said Ostapenko.

“I think it’s really hard to recover from those night matches, because after beating the world number one I went to sleep at 5am.

“I got back to the hotel around 2am and even [though] I tried to go to sleep at 3am, I had all this adrenaline and it was impossible to fall asleep.

“Then when you go to sleep at 5am or 6am, you need a few days just to recover. I think it’s a little bit crazy.”

Muchova’s fine run continues

Czech 10th seed Muchova continued her fine run at the US Open as she beat Sorana Cirstea of Romania 6-0 6-3 to reach the semi-finals for the first time.

Muchova was ranked 235th in the world when she played at Flushing Meadows last year as she made her way back from an injury lay off.

But she arrived at this year’s event inside the top 10 and progressed to the last four with impressive ease, beating an opponent who had knocked out Elena Rybakina and Belinda Bencic on her way to the quarter-finals.

Muchova dominated the first set, saving all nine break points that she saved, before coming back from a break down in the second to see off Cirstea.

“Unbelievable. This is a really sweet victory. Incredible,” Muchova said.

“I want to enjoy this win and then I will try to put up a battle against Coco.”

The 19-year-old American had to come from a breakdown in the third set to win 6-3 3-6 6-1.

Sixth seed Gauff is bidding for a first Grand Slam title.

The victory also ended Wozniacki’s extraordinary comeback run after a three-and-a-half-year absence from the sport.

Gauff will face former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko in the last eight after the Latvian 20th seed knocked out top seed Iga Swiatek.

Gauff arrived at her home Grand Slam full of confidence after title wins in Washington and Cincinnati.

Her fine form looks set to continue as she showed great resilience to fight back in the third set and register an impressive win against a resilient Wozniacki.

Gauff joked afterwards that her father can no longer sit in her support box because he gets too nervous during matches.

“He’s been doing laps around the stadium,” she said.

“I don’t know if he can hear me but I felt his good energy even if I couldn’t see him.”

Broken in her opening service game, Gauff was able to overcome a nervy start to level the scores at 2-2 before getting the decisive break to lead 5-3 and serve out the opener on the third set point.

Despite saving five break points in the second set, a frustrated Gauff eventually conceded serve to trail 5-3 and allow Wozniacki to take the fourth-round tie to a decider.

The teenager found herself a break down once again at the start of third and directed her frustration towards her coaching team, shouting at them to stop talking to her.

The home favourite channelled her energy well, overturning the deficit and breaking Wozniacki to take control of the match, all the time roared on by the crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Since her disappointing first-round exit at Wimbledon in July, Gauff has lost just one of her past 16 matches and is currently on a nine-match winning streak.

The world number six has only reached one Grand Slam singles final before – the 2022 French Open, where she lost 6-1 6-3 to Swiatek.

• ‘It feels like Wozniacki never left’

Wozniacki won her only Grand Slam at the 2018 Australian Open

The loss marks the end of an incredible run for Wozniacki as she returned to a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since the 2020 Australian Open.

Wozniacki retired three years ago to start a family and was heavily pregnant with her second child during last year’s US Open.

However, she returned to the WTA Tour last month, with Gauff remarking it is like the Dane “never left”.

“The level that she’s played today is really amazing,” Gauff said.

“She’s been an inspiration for me growing up.”

The former world number one – a two-time US Open runner-up – said afterwards she was exactly where she wants to be.

“There’s a lot of positives to take with me going forward. I’m on the right track,” Wozniacki said.

“I’m finding my form, I’m finding my feet. I’m excited to take on more events and more players.”

Elsewhere on Sunday, 10th seed Karolina Muchova set up a quarter-final encounter with Sorana Cirstea of Romania after defeating China’s Wang Xinyu 6-3 5-7 6-1.

For world number 30 Cirstea, who beat Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic 6-3 6-3, it will be a first appearance in the last eight of a Grand Slam since the 2009 French Open.

Former world number one Wozniacki, who retired in 2020 and had two children before returning in August, beat American Jennifer Brady 4-6 6-3 6-1.

“If I play my best tennis, I know I’m tough to beat,” Wozniacki, 33, said.

Gauff, 20, struggled in the first set against Belgium’s Elise Mertens before fighting back to win 3-6 6-3 6-0.

There were also wins for Poland’s defending champion Iga Swiatek and French Open finalist Karolina Muchova on day five at Flushing Meadows.

But Kazakh fourth seed Elena Rybakina was knocked out after a thrilling late-night encounter against Romanian 30th seed Sorana Cirstea.

Rybakina, 24, hit a double fault on match point as 33-year-old Cirstea continued one of the finest seasons of her career to reach the fourth round for the first time.

Excitement already building for cross-generation clash

Wozniacki, a two-time runner-up at the US Open, is playing in just her third tournament since returning to the sport.

“Obviously day by day I feel like I’m getting a little bit better,” Wozniacki said.

“Would I have been surprised had I lost in the first round? No. Would I be surprised if I keep winning? Also no.

“I think it was just kind of a go out there, give it your best, fight your heart out. If I play my best tennis, I know I’m tough to beat.”

The 2018 Australian Open winner found herself a set and a breakdown against Brady, who was also making a return to tennis after being sidelined for two years through injury.

However, Wozniacki broke back immediately to level the second set before going a double break-up to force a decider.

Racing to a 5-0 lead before Brady finally held serve, Wozniacki wrapped up victory and will play home favourite Gauff on Sunday.

Gauff is aiming to become the first home singles champion since Sloane Stephens in 2017

Like in her opening match against Germany’s Laura Siegemund, Gauff started poorly as she came under attack from 32nd seed Mertens’ aggressive approach.

The pressure she faced led to increasing tension, illustrated by loose returning and costly double faults at important moments in the first set.

But the teenager, who has been the form player of the North American hard-court swing after winning titles in Washington and Cincinnati, again demonstrated her maturity and resilience.

Fighting off five break points in her first service game of the second set lifted the mood on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It helped swing the momentum back Gauff’s way and her growing confidence further whipped up the expectant home crowd.

Even Canadian pop star Justin Bieber – sat in an executive box with wife Hailey and basketball star Jimmy Butler – leapt to his feet in celebration when Gauff moved ahead for a 4-3 lead.

From that point, Gauff started playing with more pace and accuracy as she won 10 games in a row to dig out victory.

“A win is a win, it doesn’t matter how you get it done,” said Gauff. “If anything the three-setters show everybody else I’m not going down without a fight.”

Swiatek continues title defence bid

Swiatek beat Ons Jabeur in last year’s final

World number one Swiatek reached the US Open last 16 with a dominant straight-set victory over Slovenia’s Juvan.

The pair have known each other since they were teenagers but Swiatek was ruthless in a 6-0 6-1 win, making only one unforced error in the first set and dropping just 15 points in the match.

“It is literally like playing against your sister because we’ve known each other for so long,” the Pole said.

“I didn’t like the fact that I was winning against my best friend, but I knew that I have to be really focused and not let myself think about that.”

After winning the first set in 24 minutes, Swiatek raced out to a 3-0 lead in the second.

When Juvan finally won the next game to ensure she avoided a dreaded ‘double bagel’ she waved her arms and looked up to the sky in relief, with the crowd loudly cheering her on.

Swiatek, however, remained completely focused, winning the next three games to clinch the match before the pair shared a warm embrace at the net.

Swiatek will play Jelena Ostapenko, who she has not beaten in three attempts, after the Latvian 20th seed fought back to beat American Bernarda Pera 4-6 6-3 6-3.

Elsewhere on Friday, 10th seed Muchova beat American Taylor Townsend 7-6 (7-0) 6-3 to set up a fourth-round meeting with China’s Wang Xinyu.

Gauff, 19, was outplayed in the first set but turned things around to win 3-6 6-2 6-4 in the New York night session.

Earlier, Polish top seed Iga Swiatek began her title defence with a 6-0 6-1 win over Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson in just 58 minutes.

Greek eighth seed Maria Sakkari was the biggest casualty on day one.

Sakkari, 28, has now lost in the first round of three consecutive majors after she was beaten 6-4 6-4 by Spanish world number 71 Rebeka Masarova.

Elsewhere, fourth seed Elena Rybakina – who had struggled in the build-up with a shoulder injury – beat Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-2 6-1, while Brazilian 19th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia beat 2017 champion Sloane Stephens.

Danish former world number one Caroline Wozniacki, who retired in January 2020 and has since had two children, marked her return to Grand Slam action in style with a 6-3 6-2 win against Russian qualifier Tatiana Prozorova.

“It feels amazing to be back. I was nervous coming out here but to get a win under my belt feels so special,” said two-time US Open runner-up Wozniacki, who plays 11th seed Petra Kvitova next.

Gauff and Swiatek through in contrasting fashion

Sixth seed Gauff is among the favourites to challenge Swiatek at the final major of the season, having won the two biggest titles of her career – at Washington and Cincinnati – in the build-up.

But she was made to dig deep against 35-year-old Siegemund, who has fallen down the rankings amid injury struggles.

Gauff was unable to match Siegemund’s intensity in a first set where the German played with variety and was particularly clinical at the net.

With a star-studded crowd including former United States president Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, 2006 US Open champion Maria Sharapova and boxer Mike Tyson, Gauff had some problem-solving to do.

The teenager broke in a 26-minute first game of the second set, an epic that saw Gauff finally convert an eighth break point.

That proved pivotal as she used the momentum to quickly level the match.

Gauff broke twice to lead 3-0 in the decider and, after losing patience with Siegemund’s time-wasting, overcame a late wobble to progress.

The pair shared a terse handshake after a fiery third set where both argued with umpire Marijana Veljovic about the time Siegemund was taking between points.

Asked on court to describe the match, Gauff, who will face 16-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva in the second round, responded: “Slow. It was a tough match, I wasn’t playing my best tennis.

“Laura is not an easy opponent and fights until the end. I overcame a lot of adversity so I was happy to get through.”

In contrast, Swiatek made quick progress against world number 86 Peterson.

The world number one, who could lose the ranking to Aryna Sabalenka at this tournament, earned her 16th consecutive straight-set victory in the first round of a Grand Slam.

“I was happy to play a great game, with all the pressure and expectations, I was happy on the court,” said four-time major champion Swiatek, who faces Australia’s Daria Saville next.

“I remember when I played my first matches [at the] US Open, I always felt like there is so much going on around, and it was a little bit tougher to focus. But this year I didn’t feel it.”

Sakkari shocked and Rybakina through

Maria Sakkari reached the semi-finals of the US Open in 2021

Two-time major semi-finalist Sakkari became the first top-10 player to fall in the women’s draw.

Sakkari raced to a 4-1 lead in the first set but ended up suffering a shock defeat, leaving her in tears during her post-match news conference.

“If I played five or 10% better I would have won this match. These are the matches I have to win, these are the matches I cannot lose,” she said.

“There have been too many for my level this year. It is unfortunate. I thought I would turn it around here but I was wrong. I have not much to say, I’m sorry.”

Stephens, who was the last American to win the singles title, was beaten 6-2 5-7 6-4 by Haddad Maia with five breaks traded in a thrilling deciding set.

Victoria Azarenka, a three-time finalist who is seeded 18th, made light work of France’s Fiona Ferro in a 6-1 6-2 win.

Czech 10th seed Karolina Muchova clinched a 6-4 6-0 win over Australia’s Storm Sanders, while Kvitova won 6-1 7-6 (7-5) against Spain’s Cristina Bucsa.

Swiss 15th seed Belinda Bencic cruised past Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2 6-4 and plays British qualifier Lily Miyazaki next.

Former Australian Open finalist Jennifer Brady won a match at a Grand Slam for the first time since 2021.

The American has struggled with injuries over the past two years but claimed a 6-3 7-6 (7-4) win over Australian Kimberly Birrell.

Gauff followed up her shock win over top seed Iga Swiatek in the semi-final with a 6-3 6-4 victory over her Czech opponent in Sunday’s final.

It is the 19-year-old’s fifth career title and her third of 2023 after wins in Washington DC and Auckland.

Victory gives Gauff a huge boost before the US Open which starts on 28 August.

The American also becomes the first teenager to win three WTA titles in one year since Bianca Andreescu in 2019.

Seventh seed Gauff broke her opponent – who she was facing for the first time – three times in the first set and confidently served out the opener to love in her first WTA 1000 final appearance.

Muchova, whose is set to enter the top 10 for the first time, struggled for consistency and a missed backhand in the fifth game of the second set gave Gauff the break.

Although the American failed to convert three match-point chances while serving at 5-2, she made amends in her next service game to seal victory.

“This is unbelievable, especially after everything I went through in the summer in Europe,” Gauff said, reflecting on her struggles earlier this season including a first-round exit at Wimbledon.

“I’m just happy to be here in this moment. I spent a lot of nights alone crying, trying to figure it out.”

In the men’s doubles final, Jamie Murray and New Zealand’s Michael Venus had a championship point against Argentina’s Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni but lost 3-6 6-1 11-9.

Gonzalez, 40, sent down a second-serve ace when facing championship point at 8-9 in the match tie-break and two points later he struck the decisive return off a Venus serve.