Coco Gauff was devastated after losing to World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-final of the Australian Open 2024 women’s singles on Thursday, January 25 at the Rod Laver Arena.

Gauff lost the match 6-7 (2-7), 4-6 to crash out of the hard court major at Melbourne Park.

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Inspired by Serena Williams and Jennifer Capriati, Gauff tried to look at the bright side, but she failed to put forth her A-game against Sabalenka, who now has a chance to win back-to-back Australian Open titles.

“I tend to be hard on myself, so I feel like today I was, like, dang, but I think looking back of, like, overall this stage of my life, like, it was obviously a successful time,” Gauff said in the post-match press conference.

“I saw a stat that I think I’m up there with Serena and Capriati with the wins at slams. I saw that, and it made me feel — I don’t know, I just feel like I look at the glass half empty, so I’m negative. Then I looked at that stat, and I’m like they had great careers. So I’m like I’m in the right direction,” he stated.

Proud of myself

Last year, Gauff rallied back from a set down to beat Sabalenka in the US Open final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. This time around, it was Sabalenka who had the last laugh.

In the first set, Gauff earned back-to-back breaks and had a chance to serve out the set. But Sabalenka turned out to be too hot to handle for the youngster. In the second set, Sabalenka earned a break at 4-4 to come up trumps.

“I just have to remind myself of the journey and not so much of the moment. I am really proud of myself. I did want to win a slam as a teenager, and I did that. Obviously, today I was hoping to get No. 2, or at least give myself a chance to get No. 2. It didn’t happen, but I feel like I’m there, yeah. So hopefully I can go only upwards from here,” Gauff added.

Gauff’s unbeaten run in 2024 also came to an end with the defeat. Sabalenka, in the meantime, will be up against China’s Xinwen Zheng in the final on Saturday, January 25.