Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and fourth-ranked Coco Gauff advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open on Sunday with dominant victories. No. 2 Sabalenka, who won her maiden Grand Slam title here last year, defeated Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 6-2, while Gauff, who won her first major at the US Open in September, defeated Magdalena Frech 6-1, 6-2.
“I’m super-happy with the level, happy to get this win, she’s a tough opponent,” Sabalenka said.
“I love the atmosphere here. I love playing in front of you guys and I really want to stay as long as possible, and hopefully we can get this thing one more time.” Anisimova had won four of their previous five encounters, but the American couldn’t stop the Belarusian, who smashed 18 winners. Also read: Australian Open 2024: Lleyton Hewitt son Cruz falls in junior first round
A minor rain delay at 4-1 in the first set halted Sabalenka’s momentum, but she recovered fast and drew away in the second set. She will face Barbora Krejcikova in the last eight, as the No. 9 seed upset 16-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Andreeva had hoped to become the youngest Australian Open quarterfinalist since Martina Hingis in 1997. Gauff was the first woman through, defeating Frech in just 63 minutes on Rod Laver Arena in front of the man himself.
“Luckily when I saw him come in I was already well up,” Gauff said. “I heard clapping and knew it wasn’t for us, it was only the first set. But thank you for coming. It’s an honor.”
Still a teenager, Gauff drew attention to her shoes, which carry a number of messages, including one that says: “you can change the world with your racquet,” something her father told her as a little girl. Also read: Novak Djokovic pushed by Alexei Popyrin-Australian Open 2024
“Sometimes when my mom thinks I’m negative when I look down, I’m just looking at my shoe, just a reminder that life is much more than tennis, how I do on the court does not define me as a person,” she said. “That goes for everyone. Your workplace, whatever you do, doesn’t define you as a person. Just surround yourself with good people. Everything I do on court is a plus to my life. I have everything I need. This is just all extra.”
Gauff will face Marta Kostyuk, who defeated Maria Timofeeva 6-2, 6-1 in her first major quarterfinal appearance.