Finally and firmly in control of her emotions, Aryna Sabalenka is making no secret of her burning desire to exact "revenge" in a blockbuster Australian Open semi-final with Coco Gauff.
Second-seeded Sabalenka and fourth-seeded Gauff will duel on Thursday night in a rematch of last year's US Open final which Gauff won from a set down to claim her long-awaited maiden grand slam title.
The American teenager once again stands in Sabalenka's way of adding a second major to her CV following the Belarusian's own break through last January in Melbourne.
Sabalenka was long regarded as women's tennis's most unfulfilled talent before beating Elena Rybakina in a thrilling 2023 title match on Rod Laver Arena.
Serving yips and mental demons held her back for years before the temperamental star turned to a sports psychologist for help.
Now the 25-year-old has ditched the psychologist altogether after taking full accountability for her mental shortfalls.
"I just decided at some point that I need to figure out by myself, how to start control myself better,' Sabalenka said after charging into the last four without dropping a set this Open campaign.
"That decision was the biggest decision for me and I started actually taking responsibility for everything I'm doing, and it's really helped me to become more controlled on court.
"I'm not getting crazy on court, I'm not rushing things.
"I'm just playing point by point, and that's it, and fighting for every point without overthinking about my dreams, about what I want to do, about how many slams I want to win and all that stuff.
"I was able to separate myself from that kind of mentality and just start focusing on myself and focusing on things I can improve and I can get better."
As dominant as Sabalenka has been this fortnight, dropping only 16 games in five matches, Gauff owns a 4-2 winning record over the world No.2 and won their most recent battle in New York last September.
Sabalenka won the opening set in the Flushing Meadows final before Gauff powered to a 2-6 6-3 6-2 victory.
"I love it. I love it," Sabalenka said of their latest looming stoush.
"After the US Open, I really wanted that revenge, that's a great match.
"It's always great battles against Coco, with really great fights. I'm happy to play her and I'm super excited to play that semi-final."
Sabalenka, bidding to become the first back-to-back Australian Open champion since fellow Belarusian Victoria Azarenka in 2012-13, is riding a 12-match winning streak at Melbourne Park.
Gauff has won her past 12 grand slam matches, but something must give on Thursday night.
"She's moving really well. Everything you do on court it's coming back," Sabalenka said.
"So you need to build the point probably a couple times in one point to finish the point.
"That's why she's really tough opponent."
4-COCO GAUFF (USA) leads 2-ARYNA SABALENKA (BLR) 4-2
2023 US Open, hard, F, Gauff 2-6 6-3 6-2
2023 Indian Wells, hard, QF, Sabalenka 6-4 6-0
2022 Toronto, hard, R16, Gauff 7-5 4-6 7-6 (7-4)
2021 Rome, clay, R16, Gauff 7-5 6-3
2020 Ostrava, clay, R16, Sabalenka 1-6 7-5 7-6 (7-2)
2020 Lexington, hard, R16, Gauff 7-6 4-6 (7-4) 6-4
ARYNA SABALENKA
Age: 25
Ranking: 2
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US20,512,563
Career titles: 13
Grand slam titles: 1 (Australian Open 2023)
Australian Open win-loss record: 20-5
Best Australian Open result: champion 2023
COCO GAUFF
Age: 19
Ranking: 4
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US12,250,713
Career titles: 7
Grand slam titles: 1 (US Open 2023)
Australian Open win-loss record: 12-4
Best Australian Open result: semi-finalist 2024
