Paula Badosa plays brilliant tennis to eliminate Coco Gauff and reach semifinals at the Australian Open
ATP
World number 11 Paula Badosa made history in Melbourne by advancing to the semifinals of a major for the first time after defeating an erratic Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open by 7-5 and 6-4. Her opponent will be the winner of the match between world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
One of the most promising matches in a day full of emotions was the one between the world number 3, Coco Gauff, and Paula Badosa. Both opponents were evenly matched in the quarterfinals, with Gauff having won the last two matches.
The American has shown more consistency in the tournament, only suffering some complications against Belinda Bencic.
Badosa, on the other hand, suffered for too much in the third round against Marta Kostyuk, but comes to this instance with a lot of confidence and knowing that her tennis has complicated Gauff in the past.
First set
The first set got off to a spicy start from the very first point, with both players being very aggressive from the back court, hitting more than they missed. As expected, the battle centered on who managed to take the initiative of the point. The Spaniard has a forehand that is frightening when she hits her forehand. Gauff used her mobility to her advantage.
After wasting two break points in the American's second service game, neither Badosa nor Gauff managed to break serve.
The Spaniard, knowing she was better in the forehand game, tried to attack her opponent on that shot and it paid off. In the eleventh game Badosa pressured the American and broke her serve. With the advantage 6-5 and her serve, the Spaniard did not hesitate, looked for every point, had depth and closed the first set 7-5 in 51 minutes of play.
Second set
Gauff had finished the first set with many errors and started the second set in the same way, both from the service and in her strokes. The Iberian on the other hand continued to hit the ball hard and to the lines. You could really feel that Badosa was highly motivated to achieve that coveted pass to the semis and got an important break on her rival after a long service game of the American, who committed 7 unforced errors in that game alone.
However, the joy would not last long as Gauff slowly began to straighten up his tennis and regained the break in the fourth game.
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Knowing the recent history between the two, Badosa did not want complications and immediately put pressure on the American in the next service game, breaking her again.
Gauff was unknown, registering 41 unforced errors in the match, almost twice as many as her opponent. Taking advantage of this, the Spaniard got a new break and served to win 5-2.
At that moment the tenacity of the former US Open champion came to the fore and she recovered one of the two breaks quickly. The tension was palpable, both players had to fight against the pressure. Badosa had to close the match and Gauff had to stay alive and raise her level.
Paula Badosa hits an OUTRAGEOUS volley against Coco Gauff at the Australian Open.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 21, 2025
Exhausting rally.
Finished off perfectly at the net with perfect touch.
A great talent. 🇪🇸
pic.twitter.com/YOWggJkS2B
With all the pressure on her, Paula Badosa served again for the match 5-4, but this time she managed to leave the ghosts of the past behind, served like never before and finally won the match 6-4.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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