Gauff landed her first Grand Slam title together with her gorgeous comeback in opposition to Sabalenka to win 2-6 6-3 6-2 in New York, delivering on her potential in entrance of an expectant residence crowd.
Coming into her first main as a reigning Slam champion, the fourth seed cruised into the Australian Open final eight however scraped previous Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in three units to arrange a tantalising semi-final.
The 19-year-old, who has gained each Slam semi-finals she has contested, stated she hoped to have “acquired the unhealthy match out of the way in which” earlier than making ready for a seventh assembly with Sabalenka, having gained 4 of the earlier six.
“You do really feel such as you’re the one to beat and I really feel like individuals step on court docket they usually play extra free and need to play their finest as a result of there is no strain,” stated Gauff, who completed runner-up on the 2022 French Open following her different earlier semi-final look.
“I positively really feel a bit change. But in addition, on the identical time, after I was younger no person wished to lose to a 15-year-old, so I felt individuals performed actually arduous then too.
“I feel there is a quote, it isn’t simple to get to the highest, however simpler to get to the highest and tougher to remain there. The objective is to remain right here so long as potential and preserve going upwards.”