Yastremska v Zheng, Sabalenka beats Gauff: Australian Open semi-finals – live Coco gauff screams in pain rolls on the floor

*Yastremska 1-0 Zheng Yastremska begins with a service winner, and a poor return followed by a netted backhand give her 40-0. But a much better hit, a forehand that lands near the line, announces Zheng’s presence in the match, then another from out wide and suddenly there’s a bit of pressure. Or not! An ace out wide, and Yastremska has her hold.I’ve not a clue what’s going to happen in this second match, but I’ve a sneaky feeling for Yastremska, who I think has a little more variety to her game than Zheng and probably feels under less pressure. Zheng, though, has been serving nicely, and if her forehand is working, she’ll be hard to beat.I guess it’s my unfortunate duty, at this point, to note that, earlier in the competition Sablenka was asked about the Tour Finals moving to Saudi, saying this about playing in Saudi:

It was an amazing experience. I expected something different. They treated us really well. It was really amazing atmosphere on the stadium. People really like sports there. They really like tennis. The atmosphere was incredible. The level of hospitality was definitely way, way, way better than it was in Cancun. Yeah, I’m happy to go there.”Sabalenka says she’s been focusing on herself, and new Gauff would make her play lots of extra balls. She thanks the crowd who, having previously not supported her, now do. She really enjoys playing Gauff as win or lose, the matches are great – cut to a morose her warming down on the bike – as it’s always a challenge.

Jelena Dokic, performing the interview, then namechecks Billy-Jean and Evonne Goolagong Cawley on the 50th anniversary of her win here; Sabalenka says it’s a privilege to play in front of them, then signs a towel to be auctioned for a domestic violence charity and offers another one; she’s thanked for her kindness and compassion.Gauff departs and will be disappointed having been a way off her best. But she’ll also know she was well-beaten by a batter player, and will need to think again before they meet next. I’m absolutely certain she will, though, and this has the makings of a very serious rivalry.Gauff (2)6-7 4-5 Sabalenka* Gauff has a look at second serve, but can only loop a return that begs to be assaulted at the net, and Sablenka doesn’t disappoint. Again, though, she misses her first delivery and chokes through the second, checking her swing for a dribbled double into the net … only to retaliate with an ace! That’s great stuff, but then having sent Gauff out wide, she needlessly overhits her putaway …

but a netted return raises match point! Sabalenka goes for the big T serve … nets … but a mahoosive backhand gives her control of the rally … but then dispatched to the forehand corner,but a mahoosive backhand gives her control of the rally … but then dispatched to the forehand corner, Gauff devastates a winner down the line to the backhand for deuce. No matter, an ace raises a second match point, and this time a serve out wide is too good, the riposte tudding into the root of the net, and the champ is into her second straight AO final, this time without losing a set. She looks absolutely magnificent – not all the time, but for enough time – and I fear for whoever has the misfortune of meeting her next.05.24 EST

*Gauff (2)6-7 4-5 Sabalenka Gauff slaps a backhand wide for 15-all, faults, and you fear for her here … all the more so when she pushes another second serve into the middle of the box; it sits up, and Sabalenka spanks a dismissive backhand winner. And, er gulp: again, she’s to rely on her second serve … and this time she goes for it, murdering an ace down the T for 3o-all! Her next delivery is a goodun, forcing Sabalenka to chase out wide … whereupon she uncorks a sizzling forehand return cross-court for a gargantuan winner and break point. Gauff saves it with a winner of her own, but an error hands over advantage, and is the match here? A serve into the net means trouble, Sabalenka’s return goes deep, and though it’s not a winner, the pressure tells, Gauff flaying a backhand long and wide. That’s been in the post all set, and Sabalenka will shortly serve for the match; can she hold it down? Can Gauff turn her back into old her?