CNN
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Coco Gauff continued his profession of emphatic victories within the US Open on Tuesday, beating Jelena Ostapenko in straight units.
The world No. 6 did not drop a recreation within the first set earlier than cruising to an emphatic 6-0, 6-2 victory to ebook her first US Open semi-final berth.
With most of the first seeds girls’s draw already knocked out, Gauff stays one of many few favorites left.
Gauff, 19, will now face both Sorana Cîrstea or French Open runner-up Karolína Muchová within the subsequent spherical.
“I am very blissful,” Gauff mentioned in his on-court interview after the win. “Final yr I misplaced within the quarterfinals. I am blissful and able to get again to work within the subsequent one.”
The American confronted a tough problem in opposition to the resurgent Ostapenko after the Latvian beat reigning champion Iga Świątek within the earlier spherical.
However, enjoying in entrance of a house crowd, Gauff confirmed no indicators of nerves as he dominated his opponent to win the primary set in simply 20 minutes.
Ostapenko, who gained the French Open in 2017, got here out rather more aggressively within the second set, profitable two video games to keep away from a complete whitewash.
Ultimately, nonetheless, the annoyed Latvian proved no match for Gauff as she was punished for making fixed errors.
Though the consequence seems emphatic on paper, Gauff was nonetheless compelled to work for her victory.
Ostapenko saved two match factors as Gauff seemed to finish the tie, however the American was ultimately capable of clinch victory with a exact forehand to seal her tenth straight win.
“Truthfully, I did not really feel comfy in any respect through the recreation, not even at factors within the recreation,” Gauff added.
“I do know the sport (Ostapenko) performs. She has the power to return again regardless of the rating, so I used to be simply making an attempt to get each level, put each ball.
“It is very tough in opposition to her as a result of you may’t be very aggressive, so she was doing her greatest to be aggressive when she might, and more often than not she was simply making an attempt to get the ball deep. She’s a troublesome participant and he or she had an ideal match.”
With the win, Gauff turns into the primary American teenager to succeed in the US Open semifinals since Serena Williams in 2001.
It is usually solely the second time in Gauff’s profession that he has reached the semifinal stage of a Grand Slam, the final coming on the French Open in 2022, the place he ultimately misplaced within the last to Świątek.
After triumphing in opposition to Świątek within the earlier spherical, Ostapenko was sad with the quantity of relaxation time she was allotted between her spectacular win and her match in opposition to Gauff.
“I imply, if I play a match, like an evening session, I assume, in a day, I’ve to play no less than on the similar time or later since you do not actually have a variety of time to get well,” Ostapenko advised reporters after her loss. . “I believe the schedule was higher for her as a result of she clearly performed rather a lot earlier on the day that I performed the night time session.”
The 26-year-old added that she was assured she would face Gauff within the night session.
“The factor was, after I requested the day earlier than, I used to be fairly certain I used to be going to play at night time as a result of that is what they advised me. When the schedule got here out, I noticed that I am enjoying the primary recreation and I used to be like, ‘Wow, that is a little bit little bit of an odd schedule ‘,” Ostapenko added.
“Yeah, after I noticed the schedule I used to be a little bit shocked, not in an excellent approach.”
CNN reached out to the USA Tennis Affiliation about Ostapenko’s feedback, however didn’t hear again by press time.
Gauff now has an enormous likelihood at Flushing Meadows.
In Monday’s motion, No. 1 seed Świątek, No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula and No. 5 seed Ons Jabeur exited the match, leaving Gauff and No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka as the 2 seeds remaining larger collection. left within the girls’s draw.
And with some convincing wins already in New York, Gauff has arguably his greatest shot at profitable his Grand Slam title.
The highest seed left within the draw, Sabalenka, will face rising Chinese language star Zheng Qinwen, who’s having fun with one of the best run of her profession at a Grand Slam after comfortably upsetting final yr’s finalist Jabeur in straight units within the spherical of 16 last .
Świątek’s early exit means Sabalenka will grow to be the brand new world No. 1 on Monday, the primary time in her profession that she has topped the rankings, along with her rise following a exceptional yr by which she gained three titles, together with her first. Grand Slam on the Australian Open.
Sabalenka says she is at present “enjoying nice tennis” however is aware of there are “all the time issues to enhance” as she anticipates a troublesome match in opposition to Zheng.
“We practiced along with her a few instances,” he advised reporters after Monday’s win over Daria Kasatkina. “He is enjoying actually good tennis. (His) forehand could be very heavy, I would say his backhand too. Serving effectively. Shifting effectively.
“It is like she has nothing to lose, so she’s enjoying at her greatest. She performed nice tennis in opposition to Ons. I have not seen her earlier matches, however, yeah, she’s enjoying nice tennis proper now.
“The powerful factor is he is shifting effectively, enjoying some heavy pictures. I’ve received to be prepared bodily and mentally so there’s going to be some winners in opposition to me in that recreation.
“I simply should focus extra on me than her. I do know if I get my tennis on the market, I’ve an opportunity to win this match.”
