Elina Svitolina Powers Past Coco Gauff Into Australian Open Semifinals
In a stunning display of precision and power, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina dismantled American third seed Coco Gauff on Tuesday to secure her place in the Australian Open semi-finals. The match, played under the closed roof of Rod Laver Arena, lasted a mere 59 minutes, with Svitolina claiming a decisive 6-1, 6-2 victory.
A Commanding Performance Under Pressure
The 31-year-old Svitolina, competing in her 14th Grand Slam quarter-final, was in imperious form from the outset. This marks her third career Grand Slam semi-final appearance and, significantly, her first ever in Melbourne. She had previously reached the quarter-finals at the Australian Open in 2018, 2019, and 2025, but had never progressed beyond that stage until now.
"Very, very pleased with the tournament so far," a delighted Svitolina stated after the match. The 12th seed is currently riding a formidable 10-match winning streak, having clinched the title in Auckland earlier this month. This victory also guarantees her a return to the WTA's top 10 rankings, fulfilling a key personal goal following her return from maternity leave.
Svitolina's Emotional Return to the Top
"It's always been my dream to come back after maternity leave to make the top 10. Always been my goal," she revealed, her voice filled with emotion. "It means the world to me. And of course I try to push myself, I try to give myself this motivation to continue. Very pleased with the performance at this tournament in Australia."
Her path to this milestone has been marked by resilience and determination, making this semi-final berth a particularly sweet achievement.
Gauff's Struggles on Serve Prove Costly
In stark contrast, the match was a difficult outing for the young American star, Coco Gauff. She struggled immensely with her serve throughout the contest, a weakness Svitolina exploited ruthlessly.
- Gauff was broken four times in the opening set.
- She managed to win only 41 percent of her first-serve points.
- Her game was further hampered by 19 unforced errors.
Attempting to reset, Gauff changed racquets and took a break after the first set. However, her troubles persisted. Svitolina broke her serve again at the start of the second set, and Gauff was unable to mount any significant recovery, ultimately succumbing to the Ukrainian's relentless pressure.
A Daunting Semifinal Challenge Awaits
Svitolina now sets her sights on an even greater challenge. She will next face the formidable world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated Iva Jovic in her quarter-final clash. This will be Svitolina's first Grand Slam semi-final since her run at Wimbledon in 2023.
The upcoming match promises to be a thrilling encounter, pitting Svitolina's strategic baseline game and current red-hot form against the raw power and top ranking of Sabalenka. Tennis fans worldwide will be watching closely as Svitolina continues her remarkable comeback story on one of the sport's biggest stages.
