In a spectacular display of athletic prowess, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has decisively advanced to her fourth consecutive Australian Open final, where she will confront Elena Rybakina in a highly anticipated championship match. The Belarusian powerhouse delivered a commanding performance against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, securing a 6-2, 6-3 victory despite encountering an unusual hindrance call during the fourth game.
The match took an unexpected turn when chair umpire Louise Azemar Engzell penalized Sabalenka for an irregular grunting sound during a rally, awarding the point to Svitolina under the hindrance rule. Despite Sabalenka’s request for video review and visible frustration, she demonstrated remarkable composure by immediately breaking Svitolina’s serve and dominating the remainder of the match with 29 winners against just 15 unforced errors.
Meanwhile, Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina earned her place in the final by overcoming American Jessica Pegula in a tightly contested 6-3, 7-6(9-7) semifinal battle. The Kazakh fifth seed displayed exceptional resilience after squandering multiple match points, ultimately prevailing in a dramatic tie-break to set up a final rematch of the 2023 championship.
Both finalists enter Saturday’s showdown in exceptional form, having not dropped a single set throughout the tournament. Sabalenka brings an 11-match winning streak and tournament-leading 172 winners, while Rybakina boasts the most aces (41) and has won 37 matches since Wimbledon—more than any other WTA player. The hardcourt head-to-head record slightly favors Rybakina at 6-5, adding another layer of intrigue to what promises to be a explosive final between two of tennis’s most powerful strikers.