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    Coco Gauff survives erratic start to reach Australian Open semifinals
    • January 23, 2024

    By SIMON CAMBERS The Associated Press

    MELBOURNE, Australia — Coco Gauff kept alive her hopes of back-to-back Grand Slam singles titles after beating Marta Kostyuk, 7-6 (6), 6-7 (3), 6-2, in an error-strewn quarterfinal match at the Australian Open on Tuesday (Monday night PT).

    The U.S. Open champion had 51 unforced errors, nine double faults and just 17 winners but battled past Kostyuk in 3 hours and 8 minutes.

    The 19-year-old American has now won 12 consecutive matches in Grand Slams.

    “I’m really proud of the fight I showed today,” said Gauff, who plays either defending champion Aryna Sabalenka or ninth-ranked Barbora Krejcikova in the semis.

    “Marta’s a tough player, we always have close matches,” Gauff added. “I really fought and left it all out on the court today. In the second set, I had an opportunity but I think I got passive. When I came out in the third I really tried to be a bit more aggressive.”

    Having lost just 15 games on her way to the quarters, Gauff was vulnerable early on against Kostyuk, the Ukrainian who was appearing in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal.

    Top-seeded Novak Djokovic, who has 10 Australian Open titles among his record 24 Grand Slam crowns, was taking on 12th-seeded American Taylor Fritz for a place in the semifinals. Djokovic has won all eight of their previous meetings.

    Sabalenka and Krejcikova were to play at night (overnight PT) before No. 4 Jannik Sinner met No. 5 Andrey Rublev.

    More to come on this story.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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