Coco Gauff Stunningly Eliminated By Paula Badosa In Australian Open Quarterfinal
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Coco Gauff's hopes of winning a first Australian Open title were ended after making several forehand unforced errors during a quarterfinal loss to Paula Badosa.
Gauff battled back from a set down against Belinda Bencic in the fourth round. She was among the favorites for the Australian Open title because of her exceptional form during the last few months.
However, Badosa's level had also improved during that time. The Spaniard's results included a US Open quarterfinal and a run to the China Open semifinal, where she lost to Gauff despite being a set and a break up.
Gauff also defeated Badosa after losing the first set a few months before the Italian Open. While the 20-year-old's fighting qualities in those matches were exceptional, those contests also showed Badosa's game causes her issues.
The opening set of their Australian Open quarterfinal was mostly dominated by serve. Gauff saved two break points in her second service game, but that was the only danger either woman faced until the score reached 5-5.
Conditions were fast during the match, played in the daytime. That gave Badosa a chance to get several free points with her formidable serve if it fired, and it did in the first set of this intriguing battle.
Gauff, one of the best returners on the WTA Tour, did not create a single break point before Badosa struck in the 11th game when the American's forehand began breaking down from her opponent's repeated targeting of that wing.
The No. 11 seed served out the set to take it 7-5. Although Gauff was in that position against Bencic in the last round and twice against Badosa last year, a comeback still felt like a stiff challenge because of the Spaniard's excellent serving.
Gauff left the court before the second set, but that did not initially stop Badosa's momentum. After a lengthy game, she broke again on her fourth opportunity after the 2023 US Open champion's forehand repeatedly faltered again.
Badosa, whose defeat to Gauff in last year's China Open semifinal could have been on her mind, dropped serve for the first time to make it 2-2. The crowd, mainly on Gauff's side, might have anticipated a comeback.
But the young star's mentality could not overcome her forehand struggles, which became more severe throughout the rest of the match. Badosa broke twice more, leaving herself serving for the match at 7-5, 5-2.
Gauff did not give up and got one of the breaks back to make it 3-5. That was followed by some big serving and improved forehand hitting to make it 5-4. Badosa was under pressure as she served for the match again.
The pre-match underdog superbly gathered herself and served out the contest at the second attempt, sealing a memorable 7-5, 6-4 victory.
While Gauff's forehand troubles hampered her chances, that should not detract from Badosa's excellent performance. She was very smart tactically, consistently going to Gauff's forehand before picking the right moments to hit into the open space on the court.
