WTA Indian Wells: Cori Gauff - is it enough against Sabalenka again?
Cori Gauff fought his way into the quarterfinals of the WTA Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells. Gauff has a surprisingly good record against the upcoming opponent Aryna Sabalenka .
by tennisnet.com
last edit:
Mar 15, 2023, 07:07 am
At the beginning of the third set of her game against Rebecca Peterson in Indian Wells, Cori Gauff kept looking helplessly towards her box. Not that the now 19-year-old easily won the first round against the Swede, the 6:3 was more due to Gauff's athletic superiority and defensive skills.
After that, however, Peterson had taken command. And in a way that suggested that the sixth-seeded local hero would have to say goodbye in the round of 16. Because this match showed one thing again: Cori Gauff is the only player on the WTA tour who can compete with Iga Swiatek in terms of mobility. In contrast to the industry leader, she simply lacks the weapons. The backhand is solid, but very little comes out of the forehand corner. Direct points with the serve were also scarce, the slow surface in Indian Wells certainly didn't help. No, it was only the will that brought Gauff over the finish line.
Sabalenka returns the favor to Krejcikova
Can that be enough against Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals? The trained eye of the observer and also the gut feeling say: never. But lo and behold: Gauff has won three of the four previous games against the reigning Australian Open winner. Most recently in Canada last summer.
On the other hand, the Belarusian exorcised a few personal demons on Tuesday. In Dubai Sabalenka let Barbora Krejcikova jump off the shovel again, this time she got revenge in a tight match, in the very last game of which Krejcikova even had the chance to make a comeback. No wonder Sabalenka briefly celebrated herself after the match point. Like Cori gauff a few minutes earlier.
Here is the women's individual tableau
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