Sakkari vs. Gauff showdown aborted! Sabalenka turns the challenge match into a masterclass, while Gauff is swept aside by the young American

The “Sakkari vs. Gauff” battle in the Australian Open’s upper half was canceled due to Gauff’s withdrawal, leading many to believe Sabalenka has effectively advanced to the final early!

Jovic challenges Sabalenka; Gauff confronts Svitolina! Pre-match forecasts heavily favored a semifinal clash between Sabalenka and Gauff, with fans waiting for these two to elevate the Australian Open women’s singles showdown.

Although overall strength suggested Sabalenka had a greater chance of beating Jovic, the 18-year-old American had declared before the match that she had waited two years to face Sabalenka and was playing like a warrior possessed at this Australian Open. This made some worry whether Sabalenka might unexpectedly fall to youthful energy, causing the biggest upset in the women’s singles at the Australian Open.

Just before the match started, Sabalenka and Jovic had a dispute, which was quite an interesting little episode.

Due to the heat, Sabalenka wanted to close the roof before the match began, but Jovic opposed, preferring to play in a more open environment. In the end, the young American won the argument.

Seeing Jovic firmly stand her ground and succeed in this matter raised concerns that it might disadvantage Sabalenka. However, from the start of the first set, the Belarusian used her sheer power and skill to teach Jovic a lesson, winning 6-3 and leaving the 18-year-old American almost questioning her own abilities.

In the second set, Sabalenka intensified her game and completely transformed the challenge match into a lesson for the younger player, decisively crushing Jovic and finishing strongly with a 6-0 set.

Many found it hard to believe Sabalenka could win 6-3, 6-0, especially given Jovic’s terrifying form and growing confidence throughout the tournament; even if she couldn’t beat the Belarusian, it was expected she wouldn’t be blanked and exit Melbourne so abruptly. This result was truly surprising.

In fact, although Jovic only won three games in the entire match, her performance wasn’t as weak as the scoreline suggested.

For example, in the first set, both players fiercely pressured each other to gain an early advantage, battling intensely for 59 minutes. This set was widely regarded as the American’s best performance.

Regarding Jovic’s 0-6 loss in the second set, many analysts believe it was due to a severe blow to her confidence. Imagine, she gave everything she had but failed to pose any real threat to Sabalenka, losing 3-6, which could be devastating for a young player whose mental toughness might not be as strong as outsiders think. Tennis is a sport that demands resilience and confidence at crucial moments; losing these qualities explains why Jovic was blanked in the end.

After the match, fans humorously compared Jovic to a young fairy just starting out, who believed she could roam the world with her sword and challenge the best. But after facing Sabalenka, she realized the gap was huge and that her current level was nowhere near enough to shake her target, making the lesson she received entirely justified.

Sabalenka advanced to the semifinals first, waiting for Gauff to deliver an intense “Sakkari vs. Gauff” thriller, and before the match, many thought the American’s withdrawal was nearly impossible.

But what happened? The highly favored Gauff struggled greatly against Svitolina right from the first set. After leveling at 1-1, Gauff disappeared from the match as the Ukrainian star won five consecutive games, handing the American a harsh defeat.

Having secured the first set, Svitolina grew stronger in the second, quickly taking a 3-0 lead over Gauff. Though she didn’t continue the streak, she closed the set 6-2, finishing the match at an impressively fast pace.

With Gauff swept aside in two sets by Svitolina, the long-anticipated “Sakkari vs. Gauff” battle was officially canceled early, leaving fans and netizens eager but having to wait patiently for Sabalenka and Gauff to meet on a Grand Slam stage again.

Additionally, due to Svitolina’s dominant win over Gauff, some speculate the American may have faltered herself, while Sabalenka’s current form is truly fearsome. The Ukrainian was considered defeated before even facing Sabalenka, with many saying the Belarusian has already secured a place in the Australian Open women’s singles final, though the opponent remains unknown.

However, Svitolina’s supporters disagreed, arguing it’s unfair to dismiss anyone before the match. Anything can happen on court, and since the Ukrainian can beat Gauff, she also has a chance to defeat Sabalenka. They warned against overconfidence, saying the final outcome will only be clear after the match, which heightened excitement around the Sabalenka vs. Svitolina matchup.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit River Sky)