Can Aryna Sabalenka Secure Her Place in the Australian Open Final Again?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Melbourne, Jan 29 (NationPress) World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka maintained her impressive streak at the ongoing Australian Open 2026 with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory over Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the women’s singles semi-final held at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday.
From the very beginning, Sabalenka showcased her dominance, needing just over an hour to secure her spot in the final, marking her fourth consecutive appearance in the Australian Open final.
The Belarusian star utilized her powerful serving and aggressive style to keep Svitolina under relentless pressure, leaving no room for a comeback as she advanced towards her third Australian Open title.
Sabalenka achieved an impressive 67 percent success rate on her first serve and a remarkable 79 percent on her second serve, highlighting the one-sided nature of this clash.
In contrast, Svitolina found it challenging to keep pace with Sabalenka’s rhythm and consistency, only winning 56 percent of her first serve points and 50 percent on her second, while also committing three double faults during the match.
The top seed converted four out of seven break-point opportunities while allowing Svitolina only one break from four chances. Sabalenka also led in total points won, tallying 65 points compared to Svitolina's 46.
"An incredible achievement, but the job is not done yet," Sabalenka stated on the court post-match.
"I am super happy with the victory. She is such a tough opponent, and I had to put as much pressure on her as possible. I felt my level was there today, and I played great tennis to win in straight sets," she added.
Having lost in the 2023 final to Madison Keys, Sabalenka is set to compete against either Elena Rybakina or Jessica Pegula for the title on Saturday in Melbourne.