Gauff gets scared but finishes strong
Sabalenka had perfectly launched a day where surprises were going to be as rare as the clouds in the Australian sky on this last day of the first week. Because, even if she lost a set, Coco Gauff (3rd) defeated Belinda Bencic (5-7, 6-2, 6-1). In the first set, the Swiss recalled that her ranking (294th) did not reflect her true level and that it was mainly the result of her maternity break. The 2021 Olympic champion held off the American who was struggling with her serve and ended up dropping it at 5-5 in the first set. But she quickly knew how to recover and, in heat exceeding 30 degrees, she showcased her athletic abilities to gain the upper hand and finish with a bang. “I played more aggressive in the second and third sets”justified the American.
