Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka LIVE: Australian Open 2024 scores and results from semi-finals

12 points in a row on serve. This time Sabalenka puts away the volley at the net after Gauff sliced back after being forced wide on the forehand.

If Sabalenka cut out the errors at the net I think she would have won that first set quite easily.

Just what Gauff needed: a love-hold as Sabalenka goes long on the backhand return.

This is tense and has lived up to its billing – it feels like a final.

Sabalenka replies with a love-hold, immediately putting the pressure back onto the 19-year-old Gauff.

The double-fault crisis continues for Gauff. She makes her seventh and eighth doubles both on game point and it means Sabalenka stays alive in this game.

The net-play from Gauff is stunning on deuce, though, as she controls an overhead and then produces wonderful touch on the volley.

Sabalenka nets and that is a big escape for Gauff. The American came from a set down to win the US Open final so will believe she is still in this. That second serve needs to tighten up, though.

Gauff comes under immediate pressure in the opening game of the second set as Sabalenka continues to attack her second serve…

Sabalenka produces brilliant depth to pin Gauff onto the baseline and get a look at break point.

Sabalenka looked to be in charge as she dictacted the rally but Gauff hung on and Sabalenka netted on the volley!

Deuce: but Gauff can’t do enough on the volley and Sabalenka puts away the forehand winner to bring up another break point.

Important ace from Gauff! This feels must-hold for the American.

Gauff 6-7 Sabalenka – Sabalenka wins first set!

Sabalenka finds another winner, this time on the forehand, to move to set point. And Sabalenka takes it behind another aggressive forehand strike! A rollercoaster of an opening set goes the way of the defending champion.

That’s was a tense first set but full of quality as both players attacked the other’s weaknesses and showcased their strenghts. Both had the chance to serve for the set but in the end it’s Sabalenka who prevails in the tiebreak.

Gauff 6-6 Sabalenka – TIEBREAK!

Sublime from Sabalenka to take charge from the baseline and crush the forehand winner behind Gauff to get to 2-0 early in the decider.

It sits up well for Sabalenka again and she crushes the backhand winner… sending Gauff falling to the ground behind the baseline. She looks ok. 3-0.

And this is turning into a landslide… Gauff fires wide, just, on the backhand and Sabalenka leads 4-0.

Sabalenka attacks the Gauff second serve again and the defending champion leads 5-1 at the changeover.

Gauff came from 5-2 down in this set but this looks done…

*Gauff 6-6 Sabalenka – Sabalenka breaks!

Incredible attacking movement from Gauff to close the net and put away the backhand volley to get to 30-0!

Sabalenka finds great depth to the baseline, though, and then Gauff blinks on the forehand from midcourt!

Suddenly it’s back to 30-30 and Sabalenka isn’t out of this yet… That’s why: Sabalenka crushes the backhand crosscourt!

Break point: Sabalenka goes after the Gauff forehand and gets her reward!

Another twist!!! Sabalenka breaks Gauff and we’re heading to a first-set tiebreak.

*Gauff 6-5 Sabalenka – Gauff breaks!

Incredible defence again from Gauff! She works her way into the rally and forces Sabalenka to cover the baseline, leading to the forehand error.

And now it’s break point Gauff…

That’s a HUGE ERROR from Sabalenka! From midcourt, she shanks the forehand wide!

But that’s what Gauff’s defence does to you! Sabalenka blinks and is facing the pressure now!

Wow – incredible athleticism from Gauff to put away the overhead and then Sabalenka nets on the backhand as Gauff digs in on the baseline rally.

Sabalenka gets to game point but her backhand misfires again as Gauff gets to deuce. This time Sabalenka makes no mistake from the net to put away the overhead… but she can’t get the hold as she fires long! Back to deuce.

This is, by far, the most Sabalenka has been pushed all tournament and is alerady the deepest into a set Sabalenka has been taken into all tournament.