Elina Svitolina produced one of the biggest shocks of the Australian Open by dismantling Coco Gauff in straight sets to reach her first-ever semi-final in Melbourne.
The Ukrainian 12th seed dominated the American third seed 6-1, 6-2 in just 59 minutes on Rod Laver Arena, capitalising on Gauff’s serving struggles and extending her winning streak to 10 matches.
At 31, Svitolina is chasing her maiden Grand Slam title and will now face world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who cruised past teenager Iva Jovic. This marks Svitolina’s fourth career Grand Slam semi-final, having previously reached the last four at Wimbledon and the US Open, but never before in Australia.
Her victory also secures a return to the top 10 rankings, a milestone she described as a dream comeback after maternity leave. “It means the world to me,” she said, reflecting on her journey back to elite tennis.
Meanwhile, Gauff’s campaign collapsed under the weight of 19 unforced errors and six double faults. Broken repeatedly, she never found rhythm despite attempts to regroup, leaving her title hopes shattered.
With husband Gael Monfils cheering courtside, Svitolina’s commanding performance has set up a blockbuster clash with Sabalenka, promising high drama as she continues her quest for a first Grand Slam crown.
ALSO READ: PUCC Directive Withdrawal: Odisha Govt Confirms Petrol Pumps Cannot Deny Fuel
