Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka beats Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in shock in three sets while Coco Gauff beats Australian Open The winning streak ended in the quarterfinals against Paula Badosa.

Third-seeded Gauff arrives in Melbourne as the most in-form player on the tour after winning last season’s WTA Finals and all five of her Fed Cup singles matches, including one against Iga Swiatek.

The American had a 13-game winning streak against No. 11 seed Badosa in the quarterfinals, but the Spaniard ultimately won 7-5 6-4.

Badosa feared she might retire last year because of persistent back problems, but she ended the season in style, reaching the U.S. Open quarterfinals and now setting a new high in Melbourne.

“I came in today and I wanted to play my best game and I think I did that,” she said. “Coco, she played like crazy at the beginning, but I’m very proud of the level today.

“A year ago I came here with a back and I didn’t know if I had to retire from the sport and now here I am competing against the best in the world. Today I won and I’m in the semi-finals. Never would I have thought I would be here a year later.”

Both sides held serve to 5-5 in the first set, but Badosa broke serve and led 5-2 in the second set.

She failed to serve on her first serve but made no mistake on her second, clashing with the top seed Alina Sabalenka.

Sabalenka passes Pavlyuchenkova test

Sabalenka lost her first set in Melbourne since the 2023 final against Elena Rybakina before defeating Pavlyuchenkova 6-2 2-6 6-3.

After advancing smoothly in the first set, Sabalenka seemed to be in trouble. Her serve was broken five times in a row by her 27th-seeded opponent. She lost the second set and had a slow start in the third set.

Crucially, Sabalenka also broke Pavlyuchenkova twice in the deciding set, narrowly won three games in the fierce competition in the second game, and finally won eight consecutive points to lead 3-2.

Sabalenka became more assured of both players from then on, and after a decisive break in the eighth game, she advanced to the semifinals again in Australia.

Gauff knows where she needs to improve

Gauff made 41 unforced errors in the loss to Badosa, but later recovered her senses and said: “Paula played great. Maybe there were moments in the first set that could have been The way I went, it might have been a different result in the first set.”

“I think it’s just a lot of work to do. I’m obviously disappointed, but I’m not completely broken. I’m looking forward to it. Even though I lost today, I feel like I’m on an upward trajectory.”

Gauff said after the loss that she left the Grand Slam with a clear idea of ​​how to improve, a stark contrast to how she felt after her U.S. Open title defense last year.

World No. 3 Gauff is far from her offensive best but said she was feeling more positive than she had been since her fourth-round loss to compatriot Emma Navarro in New York.

“Even though I lost today, I feel like I’m on an upward trajectory,” Goff told reporters. “I felt like I didn’t find a solution (at) the U.S. Open, so I think that was more frustrating. Today, I felt like I was finding a solution.

“I know what I need to do.”

Most internet coaches have never coached anyone at my level. Or never played it at all. It’s easier to see from the outside. Even as I’m watching me do it. I’m proud of myself and can’t control other people’s expectations of me

After the U.S. Open, Goff parted ways with coach Brad Gilbert, hired Matt Daly, and began making some adjustments to her game, including a change in grip.

Gauff’s match against Badosa didn’t go as planned, with the 20-year-old feeling his serve needed more work after double-faulting six times.

“I need to work on my serve,” Gauff said. “I’m not saying my serve is where I want it to be, but I’m working on it. Obviously it’s a big improvement. I want to keep working hard and keep trying to be aggressive.

“I felt like I was ready from the start of the game,” she added. “Yes, every game I find a solution. I was close to that today as well. I’m obviously disappointed, but I’m not completely broken.”

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