Coco Gauff survives strong challenge from Marta Kostyuk to move into Australian Open last four… as potential rematch with Aryna Sabalenka awaits

Coco Gauff recovered from a nightmarish start and a shaky mid-match performance against Marta Kostyuk to advance to the semifinals of the Australian Open. She defeated the Ukrainian 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (7-3), 6-2 and set up a possible rematch against Aryna Sabalenka.

The American trailed 5-1 in the first set of the quarters and was staring at a second set to win, but won five of the next six games to get herself back and seize control of the match, which she finally won after three hours. and eight minutes.

Gauff, who committed 24 unforced errors in the first set, built a 6-5 lead with the chance to serve for the set after breaking Kostyuk for a third time.

But Kostyuk responded with a break of his own to force a tiebreak, which Gauff eventually won after the Ukrainian took a medical timeout due to an ailing foot.

The 19-year-old saved a set point at 6-5 in the tiebreak, and also survived a set point when Kostyuk was 5-3 ahead.

Marta Kostyuk got off to a good start, but ultimately couldn’t stop number 4 seed Gauff

Kostyuk started the second set by breaking Gauff, but the American returned the favor twice more, building a 4-2 lead on her serve.

From then on, neither player could defend their serve for the next three matches.

Kostyuk once again managed to stay in the match at 4-2, but could not hold serve in a chaotic eighth game of the set that saw a rally of 21 shots and three deuces.

But Gauff couldn’t capitalize on her chance to serve for the match at 5–3, and Kostyuk ultimately held serve on her next two chances to create a second tiebreak of the match.

Coco Gauff fought for more than three hours in Melbourne to advance to the semi-finals

Kostyuk tested the 19-year-old American, but lost steam in the third and final set

This time it was the underdog who came out on top after winning the first four points, one of which was an outrageous 36-shot rally that ended when Gauff hit a forehand wide of the line.

The American would regain her momentum in the final set as she raced to a 5-0 lead, with a frustrated Kostyuk slamming her racket in the third game and ultimately failing to recover despite winning a pair of late consolation games.

Gauff, the No. 4 seed, will face the winner of the quarterfinal between Sabalenka and Barbora Krejcikova.

Gauff defeated Sabalenka in the US Open final last summer to capture her first Grand Slam.