Sabalenka 6 -2 6-3 win confirmed a repeat of September’s thrilling US Open final, in which Gauff came back from a set down to win a first major title.
Gauff, 19, scraped past Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in three sets in Melbourne.
The American made 51 unforced errors but won 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (4-7) 6-2.
Belarusian Sabalenka, who claimed her maiden singles Slam triumph on Rod Laver Arena 12 months ago, hit 20 winners a and broke Czech 2021 French Open champion Rejoicing vans serve six times in a devastating quarter-final display.
At the start of every day I pick up my phone, check messages from my friends back home and read Telegram channels that we have created especially for the news.
Friends of mine are fighting on the frontline, fighting every single day for our territory and for our freedom.
The New Year started with heavy attacks on some of our major cities – including my hometown Odesa.
My grandma, who is in her mid-80s, is still there. She refused to leave the city.
She lives on the 13th floor of an apartment block and has to walk up the stairs every day because she is scared to get stuck in the elevator in case of a power outage caused by an attack.
My uncle and his family are there, as well as a lot of friends. I also still have a lot of friends in Kyiv and Kharkiv, where I trained as a teenager.
These cities are constantly under attack,.