Elina Svitolina has proved once again why she is one of the most formidable players in women's tennis, as she humbled 21-year-old American sensation Coco Gauff to set up a semi-final showdown with world number one Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open.
Down by a staggering 1-6 and then 0-3, Svitolina dug deep to mount an incredible comeback in the third set, ultimately securing a convincing 6-1, 6-2 victory that sent shockwaves through the Rod Laver Arena crowd.
Gauff's collapse was precipitated by her struggling serve, forehand and even her trusty two-handed backhand, which she produced unforced errors from left and right. Despite acknowledging that Gauff had forced her to play poorly, Svitolina remained composed, displaying a level of mental toughness that has earned her a reputation for outlasting her opponents in high-pressure situations.
On the flip side, Sabalenka continued on her winning streak, bulldozing 18-year-old Iva Jovic with relative ease. The 31-year-old Ukrainian player's bold aggression and pinpoint serving have been instrumental to her success thus far, as she now joins Svitolina in a semi-final showdown that promises to be an epic encounter.
Sabalenka has once again redefined the notion of dominance on the tennis court, having now reached the semi-finals in 12 out of her last 13 majors. Her experience at this year's French Open was marred by food poisoning, but even then she managed to salvage a narrow defeat, further underscoring her status as one of the sport's top players.
In contrast, Svitolina has been rejuvenated since giving birth to her daughter in 2023, returning to competition with renewed vigor. She is now at a career-high ranking and has started the season on an impressive note, having won two tournaments and successfully claimed ten consecutive wins. This victory marks her second win against a top-10 player this year and maintains her spotless record without dropping a single set.
With both players boasting incredible resumes, their upcoming match promises to be an unforgettable experience for fans of the sport.
Down by a staggering 1-6 and then 0-3, Svitolina dug deep to mount an incredible comeback in the third set, ultimately securing a convincing 6-1, 6-2 victory that sent shockwaves through the Rod Laver Arena crowd.
Gauff's collapse was precipitated by her struggling serve, forehand and even her trusty two-handed backhand, which she produced unforced errors from left and right. Despite acknowledging that Gauff had forced her to play poorly, Svitolina remained composed, displaying a level of mental toughness that has earned her a reputation for outlasting her opponents in high-pressure situations.
On the flip side, Sabalenka continued on her winning streak, bulldozing 18-year-old Iva Jovic with relative ease. The 31-year-old Ukrainian player's bold aggression and pinpoint serving have been instrumental to her success thus far, as she now joins Svitolina in a semi-final showdown that promises to be an epic encounter.
Sabalenka has once again redefined the notion of dominance on the tennis court, having now reached the semi-finals in 12 out of her last 13 majors. Her experience at this year's French Open was marred by food poisoning, but even then she managed to salvage a narrow defeat, further underscoring her status as one of the sport's top players.
In contrast, Svitolina has been rejuvenated since giving birth to her daughter in 2023, returning to competition with renewed vigor. She is now at a career-high ranking and has started the season on an impressive note, having won two tournaments and successfully claimed ten consecutive wins. This victory marks her second win against a top-10 player this year and maintains her spotless record without dropping a single set.
With both players boasting incredible resumes, their upcoming match promises to be an unforgettable experience for fans of the sport.
Elina Svitolina is on fire 
! That comeback in the 3rd set was insane 
I mean, who else can go from down 1-6 to winning the set and the match? 
Coco Gauff's serve and forehand just fell apart, but Svitolina stayed calm and collected 
. And can we talk about Sabalenka for a sec? She's like a tennis robot 
, dominating her opponents with ease. I love how she's not intimidated by anyone, even the top players 
. The semi-final match between Svitolina and Sabalenka is going to be EPIC 
! Can't wait to see what these two talented players have in store for us 
and i gotta say i'm loving her resurgence since having her daughter in 2023 she looks like a different player on the court now, all refreshed and rejuvenated 
anyway this semi-final showdown between svitolina and sabalenka is gonna be EPIC 
she's got some serious mental toughness and I love how she didn't give up even when things were looking grim 1-6 down against Coco Gauff. that comeback was insane!!! 
COCO GAUFF WAS SERVING FOR DUST! 
Elina Svitolina absolutely crushed it out there, I mean that girl was down 1-6 and 0-3 in the third set and she just wouldn't give up!!! 
they're like two tennis titans colliding in a battle of endurance and skill. Svitolina's comeback against Gauff was insane 
always barreling forward with her pinpoint serving and aggression. this semis match is gonna be a real barnburner folks can't wait to see who comes out on top 
I mean, who doesn't love watching someone get crushed by 6 points only to mount a comeback like it's no big deal? 
Elina Svitolina is literally the tennis equivalent of a ninja – she just kept getting back up and fighting. 
. On the other hand, Sabalenka is just dominating like she owns the place (which, let's be real, she kinda does 
). I'm excited to see these two go head-to-head – it's going to be a real nail-biter... or so we'll find out once the match actually starts 
.
And Gauff, poor girl, just had a really tough day with her serve and forehand... 
She's so confident on the court, it's scary! 
Here's a quick diagram to sum up the situation: 