Australian Open 2024 Results: Instant Reactions to Winners and Losers from Thursday

Aryna Sabalenka will defend her Australian Open title in Saturday's women's singles final.

The No. 2 seed eliminated Coco Gauff in one of two women's semifinals on Thursday in Melbourne.

Gauff, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, was the last American man or woman left in a singles draw at the first major of the season.

Sabalenka will go up against first-time Grand Slam finalist Zheng Qinwen in the final.

Zheng also won in straight sets against Dayana Yastremska, whose incredible run to the semifinals as a qualifier came to an end.

Sabalenka will be the clear favorite in Saturday's final, but Zheng's form could keep her in the match to test the No. 2 seed.

No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka Def. No. 4 Coco Gauff, 7-6 (2), 6-4

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 25: Aryna Sabalenka in action against Coco Gauff of the United States in the semi-final on Day 12 of the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Sabalenka earned her revenge for the loss in the 2023 U.S. Open final to Gauff with a straight-set win in Melbourne.

Gauff pushed Sabalenka to a first-set tiebreak, but then the No. 2 seed took over by winning seven of the nine tiebreak points.

Sabalenka earned the crucial second-set service break before Gauff and closed out the American in straight sets.

The No. 2 seed is now aiming to become the first repeat Australian Open women's singles champion since Victoria Azarenka in 2012 and 2013.

Sabalenka will be favored to do so against Zheng, who will appear in her first Grand Slam final.

Sabalenka went 1-1 in Grand Slam finals last season, both of which took place on hard courts, and she owns a 1-0 head-to-head record over the No. 12 seed.

No. 12 Zheng Qinwen Def. Dayana Yastremska, 6-4, 6-4

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China's Zheng Qinwen celebrates after victory against Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska during their women's singles semi-final match on day 12 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 25, 2024. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

Zheng's remarkable run in Australia continued with the straight-set win over Yastremska.

The 12th-seeded woman picked up breaks at the exact same time in each set to earn the advantage over her opponent.

Zheng broke Yastremska's serve at 3-3 in each set to give her the separation required to close out both set in 10 games.

Zheng is now 10-1 in her last 11 hard-court Grand Slam matches. She advanced to the quarterfinals at the 2023 U.S. Open.

She will be the clear underdog against Sabalenka, but with the way she is playing, she has a chance to hang with the No. 2 seed.

The loss ended a surprise semifinal run for Yastremska, who had to win a few matches in the qualifying rounds just to make the main draw.

Yastremska took out three seeded players in the first four rounds on the way to her best-ever Grand Slam finish.