Aryna Sabalenka 'fought a few demons' in Coco Gauff win says Barbara Schett after US Open heartbreak

After her thrilling semifinal victory over Coco Gauff at the 2024 Australian Open, Aryna Sabalenka appears to have exorcised a few of her demons, according to Eurosport analyst Barbara Schett.

Sabalenka defeated Gauff in straight sets to advance to her second consecutive Australian Open final. Furthermore, the Belarusian avenged her 2023 US Open loss to the American phenom, where Sabalenka fell to Gauff in a hotly-contested final.

The former-player-turned-pundit had high praise for the World No.2 following her victory, as the match could have swung in either direction. Although things seemed tense at times for both players, it was Sabalenka who kicked things into a higher gear to prevail and advance to her third overall Grand Slam final.

“[It was a] very impressive performance by Aryna Sabalenka,” Schett said. “The conditions are a bit cooler and you think that [they might be] a little bit slower, but the power in which [Sabalenka] hits her shots, especially in that second set towards the end where it was getting tight.
She stuck to her gameplan; fought a few demons. She was getting a little bit nervous towards the end of the first set serving that one out and also in the second set. She really impressed me so much. I don’t think she loves playing against Coco Gauff, like she said, but she’s done an amazing job.”