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Coco Gauff’s journey to her maiden Australian Open semi-final witnessed a hard-fought battle against Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk. The US Open champion triumphed 7-6, 6-7, 6-2 in an enthralling three-hour and eight-minute encounter, setting up a semi-final clash with Aryna Sabalenka.
However, former Australian Open finalist Arnaud Clement was critical of Gauff’s performance, describing it as extremely poor. He pointed out Coco’s passivity, highlighting Marta’s proactive approach in the rallies. Kostyuk took risks and balanced winners with unforced errors, while Gauff seemed relatively subdued, doing nothing on the court.
Clement suggested that Gauff might face a quick exit in the semi-final if she does not elevate her game, especially against the formidable and in-form defending champion Sabalenka. The match at Rod Laver Arena was indeed a roller coaster ride, with Gauff overcoming a 5-1 deficit in the opener but faltering to close out the match in straight sets.
The better-ranked player ultimately seized control in the decider, securing the victory and extending her impressive streak in Major tournaments.
The contest witnessed over 100…
