Breaking down a trio of pre-Australian Open storylines closing out the first week of the 2023 season.

Third-seeded Irina-Camelia Begu advanced when Viktoriya Tomova retired with Begu leading 7-5, 5-1.

Meanwhile, Jessica Pegula cracks the Top 10, Coco Gauff surges to a new high of No. 13 and Holger Rune continues his breakthrough year by breaking into the Top 30.

Putting up a baseline fortress against Martina Trevisan, the 18-year-old advanced to her first major singles final in a rout before writing, “Peace. End gun violence,” on a camera lens.

The American teen becomes the youngest Grand Slam finalist since Maria Sharapova in 2004, and will face world No. 1 Iga Swiatek for her first major title on Saturday.

Gauff is a -300 favorite to make it to the final at Roland Garros, but Trevisan is a tricky player and has beaten the American before.

Will the dominant No. 1 and a possible future No. 1 collide for the title?

We definitely know who the American is backing in Thursday's semifinal between the Italian and Coco Gauff.

The Italian is fresh off winning her first WTA title in Rabat and is eager to replicate the breakthrough run she enjoyed in Paris back in 2020.

A year removed from hard quarantine, the world No. 6 feels at home among the tournament favorites after rolling into the third round.