World number one Aryna Sabalenka booked her place in the Australian Open final after a convincing 6-2, 6-3 victory over Elina Svitolina. The two-time champion showed calm control and explosive power throughout the match.
Despite facing a controversial hindrance call early in the first set, Sabalenka stayed composed. She quickly regained focus and took control of the rallies. Her aggressive baseline play left Svitolina with little room to respond.
Sabalenka hit 29 winners and committed only 15 unforced errors. She also dropped just 11 points on serve. These numbers highlight her dominance and sharp mental strength on the day.
Hindrance Call Fails to Disrupt Sabalenka’s Rhythm
The match briefly paused when the umpire penalized Sabalenka for hindrance due to an unusual grunt. Sabalenka disagreed with the decision and requested a video review. However, the umpire stood by the call.
Rather than losing momentum, Sabalenka raised her intensity. She broke Svitolina’s serve soon after and won four of the next five games. That run secured the opening set.
In the second set, Sabalenka recovered quickly from an early break. She broke back immediately and never looked back. A powerful forehand winner sealed her place in the final.
Rybakina Defeats Pegula to Set Up Final Showdown
Elena Rybakina also reached the final with a strong 6-3, 7-6 (9-7) win over Jessica Pegula. The Kazakh fifth seed controlled most of the match with her powerful serve and clean groundstrokes.
Rybakina broke early in both sets and looked set for a straight-forward finish. Pegula fought back bravely and saved three match points. She forced a tense tie-break in the second set.
Rybakina held her nerve when it mattered most. She saved two set points and closed the match with a precise backhand winner.
Final Set for Power Tennis in Melbourne
Saturday’s final promises a high-quality contest. Neither Sabalenka nor Rybakina has dropped a set in the tournament so far. Both players arrive in outstanding form.
Sabalenka enters the final on an 11-match winning streak and leads the tournament in winners with 172. She also seeks redemption after last year’s final defeat.
Rybakina, meanwhile, has won 19 of her last 20 matches. She holds a narrow 6-5 head-to-head advantage over Sabalenka on hard courts. The final offers her a chance to avenge her previous loss in Melbourne.
Fans can expect a thrilling battle between two of the hardest hitters in women’s tennis.
