Australian Open: US Open Champion Coco Gauff Battles Past Marta Kostyuk to Secure Semi-final Spot

• US Open Champion Coco Gauff has earned a spot in the Australian Open semi-final
• The world fourth seed battled past unseeded Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk
• Gauff will face either defending champion Aryna Sabalenka or Barbora Krejcikova

US Open Champion Coco Gauff battled her way past unseeded Marta Kostyuk on Tuesday, January 23 2024, earning her spot in the Australian Open semifinals.

The three-hour and eight-minute match on Rod Laver Arena saw the fourth seed beat Kostyuk 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (3/7), 6-2 in a hard-fought encounter.

Facing either defending champion Aryna Sabalenka or ninth-seeded Barbora Krejcikova in the semifinal on Thursday, January 25, 2024, Gauff expressed her satisfaction with the victory.

"Happy, really proud of the fight I showed today. Marta is a tough opponent. I really fought and left it all on the court today," said Gauff, as quoted by Super Sport.

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Gauff, who had never progressed beyond the fourth round at Melbourne Park in four previous attempts, was not on her best form and struggling on serve. The 19-year-old, however, was proud of the fight she showed on the court.

The contest witnessed a low standard from both players, with only 16 service breaks and 107 unforced errors.

Notably, Gauff reached the semifinals without encountering a seeded player, benefiting from the early exits of several top names in the tournament. Her next challenge awaits in the form of either Sabalenka or Krejcikova.

In other Australian Open action, top-seeded Novak Djokovic and second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka are set for quarter-final challenges.

Djokovic, aiming for his 11th title and 25th Grand Slam crown, faces a formidable opponent in American 12th seed Taylor Fritz. Meanwhile, Sabalenka navigates a tough match against the ever-consistent Czech star Barbora Krejcikova.

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Djokovic, who dominated his fourth-round opponent, anticipates a more demanding test from Fritz.

The clash winner will meet either Italian fourth seed Jannik Sinner or Russia's fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the semifinals, as reported by France24.

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Gauff secured her maiden Grand Slam title after beating Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final.

She became the first American teenager to win the Grand Slam since Serena Williams in 1999.