Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, has advanced to his 11th Australian Open semi-final after a hard-fought victory over Taylor Fritz. Coco Gauff, the reigning US Open champion, has also made history by reaching her first Australian Open semi-final after defeating Marta Kostyuk in a thrilling three-set battle.
Djokovic Overcomes Fritz in a Tight Contest
Djokovic’s match against Fritz was a close affair from the start. The American player saved three break points in the opening game and managed to hold his serve throughout the first set. However, Djokovic eventually broke through in the tie-break to win the first set 7-6(3).
Fritz responded by breaking Djokovic’s serve early in the second set and held on to win the set 6-4. Djokovic had 15 break point opportunities in the second set but was unable to convert any of them.
Despite the setback, Djokovic came back strong in the third set. He broke Fritz’s serve twice and won the set 6-2. Djokovic continued his momentum in the fourth set, breaking Fritz’s serve once again and winning the set 6-3.
The victory was Djokovic’s ninth against Fritz in their career head-to-head meetings. It also marked his 700th hard-court win in the ATP during the Open Era, making him only the second player after Roger Federer to achieve this feat.
Djokovic Praises Rublev and Sinner
In his on-court interview after the match, Djokovic spoke about his upcoming semi-final opponent, who will be either Andrey Rublev of Russia or Jannik Sinner of Italy.
“Both are in great form,” Djokovic said. “I watched Rublev the other night against de Minaur. Some of the quickest & most grueling exchanges I’ve seen in Rod laver arena in years. Sinner is playing the tennis of his life. He had a fantastic ending of last season. I can expect him to always play on the highest level. Let’s get some popcorn, you and I. We’ll chill on the sofa, enjoy the match and watch them play.”
Gauff Makes History with First Australian Open Semi-Final Appearance
Coco Gauff, the 19-year-old American star, has made history by reaching her first Australian Open semi-final. She defeated Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in a three-set marathon that lasted over three hours.
Gauff started the match slowly and found herself down 5-1 in the first set. However, she fought back to win the first set in a tie-break. She faced another setback in the second set when she was broken early, but she once again rallied to win the set in another tie-break.
Gauff dominated the third set, winning it 6-2 to seal the victory. With this win, she became the second teenager in this century to win her first 10 matches in a single calendar year, after Justine Henin in 2001.
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Gauff Excited to Be in the Semi-Finals
“I’m so excited to be in the semi-finals,” Gauff said after the match. “I’ve been working so hard for this, and it feels amazing to finally achieve it. I’m not going to stop here, though. I want to win this tournament.”
Gauff’s next opponent will be either Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus or Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic.
Djokovic and Gauff Aiming for Australian Open Glory
Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff are both on a mission to win the Australian Open. Djokovic is looking to win his 10th Australian Open title, while Gauff is looking to win her first Grand Slam title.
Both players have faced tough challenges so far in the tournament, but they have come through them all. They will be looking to continue their winning ways in the semi-finals and reach the final.
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