Gauff sees off stubborn Ukrainian
Stars are free to speak out
One of the strangest Australian Open quarterfinals in recent memory has seen US superstar Coco Gauff advance into a potential blockbuster semifinal against Aryna Sabalenka – but only after playing some woeful tennis.
The US Open champion somehow hit just 17 winners in her 7-6(6) 6-7(3) 6-2 win over Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, along with 51 unforced errors, while Kostyuk had 39 winners but 56 unforced errors.
Gauff was trailing 5-1 and down a double break in the opening set before recovering to win it in a thrilling tiebreak.
Serving for the first set, Kostyuk double-faulted twice to hand a break back, failed to convert a set point in the ensuing game at 3040, and from 0-40 in her ensuing service game could only save two of the three break points, as Gauff got things back on serve and made it 5-5.
An unforced error from Kostyuk cost her a set point.
She then erred again to hand Gauff set point on her own serve, Gauff forcing the error to claim the set 7-6(6).
Gauff led 4-2 in the second set before Kostyuk broke back to love, and extended her lead to 5-3.
But Gauff was then broken again, before Kostyuk held to love for 5-5.
In the tiebreak, Kostyuk leapt out to a 4-0 lead, with Gauff’s forehand proving to be a massive liability.
The Ukrainian eventually claimed it 7-6(3) to send the match to a decisive third set.
Serving for the match at 50, Gauff coughed up a 30-0 lead and was broken, with Kostyuk getting it back to 52 before Gauff held to love to finally win the match shortly before 4.30pm.
Gauff said she knew stepping up her aggressiveness in the third set would be the key.
“I’m happy and really proud of the fight I showed today,” Gauff said.
“Marta’s a tough opponent – every time we play it’s a tough match.”
Tennis stars have been granted free speech and will be allowed to keep making political statements at the Australian Open.
There are no provisions that prohibit players making political statements in the 60-page grand slam rule book that governs player conduct at major events. While Tennis Australia declined to weigh in on the issue, it is the relevant organiser charged with regulating rules at Melbourne Park.
The document covers everything from punctuality (men can be fined up to $20,000 if they are not ready to walk on court at start time) to wearing correct socks. . However, there are no rules regarding what a player can or cannot say politically.
In contrast, the International Cricket Council (ICC) charged Australian opener Usman Khawaja for wearing a black armband during a Test for breaching equipment regulations that bar players from displaying personal messages at international matches which support “political, religious or racial” causes.
Quarter-finalist Marta Kostyuk this week demanded the “sports community stop using the tennis court to promote Russian peace”.
The Ukrainian star was enraged by a since-deleted post from the US Open’s official Instagram account that displayed the Russian flag next to Maria Timofeeva, who Kostyuk defeated in the fourth round.