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Sabalenka, Gauff Battle Through to Australian Open Fourth Round

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka edged past Anastasia Potapova in two tight tiebreaks to reach the fourth round. Sabalenka admitted to emotional struggles but praised her opponent's incredible tennis and her own resilience. Meanwhile, Coco Gauff overcame a slow start to defeat fellow American Hailey Baptiste in three sets. Gauff's victory marked her 77th Grand Slam win in her 100th main-draw match at a major.

Key Points: Sabalenka, Gauff Reach Australian Open 4th Round

  • Sabalenka wins tense tiebreaks
  • Gauff rallies from set down
  • Top seeds face stern challenges
  • Victories mark career milestones
2 min read

Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff reach Australian Open fourth round

Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff advance to the Australian Open fourth round after hard-fought three-set victories in Melbourne.

"She played incredible tennis... I'm just super happy that I was able to get this win. It was such a fight and I really enjoyed it. - Aryna Sabalenka"

Melbourne, January 23

Two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka faced a stern challenge as she battled her way into the fourth round of the ongoing Australian Open in Melbourne with a 7-6, 7-6 victory against Anastasia Potapova on Friday

Meanwhile, Coco Gauff battled past fellow American Hailey Baptiste to reach the fourth round, rallying from a set down for a 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 victory.

Sabalenka led 7-6(4), 4-0 before Potapova staged a comeback, but the top seed held firm, saving four set points in a tense second-set tiebreak to secure a 7-6(4), 7-6(7) victory as per the WTA website.

After the win, Sabalenka praised Potapova's game, saying she was under constant pressure throughout the match. She admitted that she was struggling emotionally, but was pleased with her resilience and happy to come out as a winner.

"She played incredible tennis. I was always on the back foot, and to be honest, there are days where you just have to be there, to fight and try your best to put the ball back. Even though emotionally I was all over the place, I was able to still fight for every point ... and I'm just super happy that I was able to get this win. It was such a fight and I really enjoyed it," the Belarusian tennis star said as quoted by the WTA website.

"I was just trying to calm myself down, which wasn't working well today, but at the same time, I was trying to figure out how to connect my body. It seemed like everything was working separate. My brain was somewhere else, my arms were going one direction ... and I was looking to put pressure on her, to try to let her play basically, and somehow, magically, I was able to get this win," Sabalenka added.

On the other hand, third-seed Coco Gauff defeated Hailey Baptiste 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 in an all-American clash.

After dropping the opening set, Gauff took control of the match with a dominant second set before closing out the contest. The win marked her 77th career Grand Slam victory and came in her 100th Grand Slam main-draw match.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Great matches! But honestly, I wish we had more coverage of Indian players in Grand Slams. Sania Mirza's retirement left a big gap. When will we see the next big singles star?
A
Aman W
Coco Gauff is just 19 and already has 77 Grand Slam wins? That's insane talent. The future of women's tennis looks bright with players like her and Sabalenka. 🎾
S
Sarah B
Respectful criticism: The article focuses heavily on Sabalenka's quotes but gives very little insight into Gauff's match or mindset. A more balanced report would be better.
K
Karthik V
The Australian Open timings are perfect for us in India! Watching these late-night thrillers with chai is a ritual. Sabalenka's tiebreak was nail-biting stuff.
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Nisha Z
It's inspiring to hear top athletes talk openly about mental struggles. "My brain was somewhere else" - so relatable! Takes courage to admit that on a global stage.

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