Wuhan Open Semi-final Clash: Gauff vs. Sabalenka
In the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open semifinals, American Coco Gauff is set to face top-seeded Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, WTA Tennis reported. Gauff achieved her 50th WTA win of the year with a triumphant 6-0, 6-4 quarter-final win against Poland's Magda Linette. Despite eight double faults, Gauff was exceptional in returning serves, capturing 14 out of 21 return points in the first set. Linette posed a stronger challenge in the second set, but Gauff held on, capitalizing on one of Linette’s 22 unforced errors to tilt the match in her favor, marking her ninth consecutive win.
On the other side, Sabalenka delivered a commanding performance with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Magdalena Frech. Extending her unbeaten streak in Wuhan to 15 matches, Sabalenka showcased aggressive shot-making, tallying 42 winners and securing her win in just 1 hour and 23 minutes. After navigating tougher earlier rounds, Sabalenka seemed in formidable form against Frech.
The semifinal match between Sabalenka and Gauff marks their eighth encounter overall and builds upon their fierce rivalry on the court. Notably, the previous Grand Slam encounters saw Gauff prevail in the 2023 US Open final, while Sabalenka retaliated with a win in the Australian Open semifinals earlier this year. Currently, Gauff leads the head-to-head 4-3, with the pair navigating unpredictable matches characterized by frequent fluctuations in dominance and multiple contests reaching three sets. This semifinal clash represents their continuation of meeting at advanced rounds following a history of quarterfinal battles in prior tournaments.
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