Surprise at the Australian Open: world No. 3 Coco Gauff was beaten on Tuesday in the quarter-finals by Spaniard Paula Badosa (12th), who will play her first Grand Slam semi-final.
Winner of the US Open in 2023, the 20-year-old American was dominated 7-5, 6-4 by her 27-year-old opponent, who will face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, double title holder, in the semi-final. in Melbourne, or the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (32nd).
“I’m moved”, Paula Badosa creates the feat against the world No.3
Gauff was undefeated since the start of November and a loss in the group stage of the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia, a tournament she ultimately won.
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Before the Australian Open, the American had won five consecutive victories with the United States to win the United Cup, a mixed national team competition.
« I am moved “, Badosa said on the court. I wanted to play my best tennis and I think I did it, I’m super proud of my level of play today » (Tuesday), enjoyed the Spaniard, who had a long back injury.
-« I’ve been through a lot […] For me, it’s a dream come true “, she added.
The first Spanish woman to reach the final four of a Grand Slam since Garbine Muguruza at the Australian Open in 2020, Badosa now leads 4-3 in her duels with Gauff. Until now, she had never won against a member of the top 10 in one of the four major world tennis tournaments (Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, US Open).
Ex-world No.2, his best Grand Slam results so far were two quarter-finals, at Roland-Garros in 2021 and at the US Open in 2024.
The match was balanced up to 5 games throughout in the first set. Badosa then broke Gauff (6-5), after missing two first opportunities to take the American’s serve in the third game. The Spaniard then pocketed the set on her serve on her first set point.
In the second act, Badosa led 2-0 then 5-2. Gauff managed to erase one of her two late breaks, but not the second, her opponent finally winning the set 6-4.
