Having missed a second-serve return on break point in the opening game, Sabalenka soon established her presence on court by stringing together 17 consecutive points. In Gauff’s next service game, the top seed clubbed two forehand return winners to launch a break at love—and secured a rapid double break when the American double-faulted.
Gauff cut the deficit to 3-4, as Sabalenka’s forehand had patches of deceleration issues. Pushed to deuce, an ace up the T pushed the Belarusian ahead 5-3 before Gauff dropped serve for a third time.
The fourth seed regrouped, breaking for 2-1 in the second set with a terrific defensive stab that forced Sabalenka forward and left the line open for a forehand pass. With a stronger rhythm going, Gauff staved off two break points in the ad court with great variation on her first serve to reach 4-2.
