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AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2023: COCO EXIT AS OSTAPENKO SET TO BATTLE RYBAKINA IN QUARTER FINAL

Jelena Ostapenko and Elena Rybakina are through to the quarter final at the Australian Open after victory in fourth round defeating Coco Gauff and world No. 1 Iga Swiatek respectively on Sunday.

The world No.7 who had tears after the loss was aggressively pressured by Ostapenko who held firm when it mattered, saving seven of the eight break points she faced, while taking all three of her chances on Gauff’s serve.

The 2017 French Open Champion was brilliant, winning most of the baseline battle, she controlled play in better moments of the match and ‘tearfully’ bringing an end to the American’s unbeaten start to 2023.

Coco Gauff had started with an advantage in the first break of the match taking a 2-1 lead after an exciting and descriptively perfect use of backhand in play.

But Ostapenko bounced back with quick aggressive play and broke back in the next game. Before winning the first set in 49 minutes, she had saved four break points in the seventh game to hold a 4-3 lead and she did sustain the momentum which paid off.

The Latvian meeting Coco for the first time since 2019 in the first set was beautiful with a blistering backhand volley at the net before sealing the first set.

In the second set, Ostapenko moved up 5-3 lead in the first break point and having the advantage after the breakthrough in the eight game, it was obvious she was driving confidently to the quarter final  with her new brand of aggressive tennis. She sealed the win with 7-6 6-3 and booked a place in the quarter final for the first time in Melbourne Park. She now will play Elena Rybakina who defeated women’s world No.1 Iga Swatek.

Meanwhile, Elena, who was born in Russia but has represented Kazakhstan since 2018, won her maiden Grand Slam title in Wimbledon last year. She was a surprise to some pundits defeating the 21 year-old 6-4 6-4 as Swiatek was favourite to win the tournament having reached the semi -final last year and winning eight titles in 2022, including two Grand Slams.

“I felt the pressure, and I felt that “I don’t want to lose” instead of ‘I want to win’. So that’s, I think, a base of what I should focus on in (the) next couple of weeks.” Swiatek told reporters.

Rybakina, 23, who is the first Kazakhstan to win Wimbledon title could go all the way to clinch the crown. But it remains to be seen! As there are other high rank stars still at the tournament. Third seed Pegulais another contender for the title, she is highest ranked player in the women’s draw after she defeated Czech Barbora Krejcikova 7-5 6-2 in a match that lasted one hour and 41 minutes.

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