Wuhan Open 2024: Sabalenka finally stumbles over the line after bizarre Gauff semi-final clash

Saturday, 12 October 2024 at 13:13

Aryna Sabalenka is into the final of the Wuhan Open and could seal the title for the third time in a row after defeating Coco Gauff in a bizarre semi-final on Saturday afternoon.

Sabalenka won through 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the end. But it was a match that went back and forth, was full of double faults and saw both players spurn leads and also have to return after a rain delay. Certainly one that had it all.

Gauff came out of the traps early with a superb opening set that floored Sabalenka. She went 5-0 up against the World No.2 who is likely to finish the year as Year End World No.1 with Sabalenka struggling on first serves sat at only 29% compared to 82% from Gauff as she surged towards the opening set 6-1.

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This continued into the second set as Gauff once again broke Sabalenka who had only one hold in the contest at that juncture which was bizarre on a surface that she loves so much. But it started to turn. The breaks started to come as Sabalenka came from 15-40 down and a double fault on Gauff's serve on break point again saw four games and four breaks in the second set as Sabalenka tied it up at 2-2.

But just as Gauff led again at 3-2, the rain came and the roof had to be closed meaning Sabalenka had time to regroup and regroup she did. She came from 4-2 down in the second set to win seven games in a row on return to go 3-0 up in the third. She needed six game points to do it and saved three break points in the process but she was in the ascendancy or was she.

Going 4-1 up she looked to be heading towards the finish but again she started to break down and Gauff was suddenly looking like the favourite again she made it 4-4. But Sabalenka just about sealed her serve again after faltering previously and on her second match point sealed the win albeit of course after she went through an almighty fight and nearly fell apart at the crunch. She now faces Qinwen Zheng or Wang Xinyu in the final who face off shortly.

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WTA 1000 WUHAN SF: Aryna Sabalenka wins 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 against Coco Gauff She was 1-6, 2-4 down, but gets into the Final here yet again. Fitting it ends on a double fault, Coco hit 21 of them. Sabalenka always puts pressure on 2nd serves and Coco has struggled with that this yr.

11:09 AM · Oct 12, 2024

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