Aryna Sabalenka powered into her fourth straight Australian Open final, brushing aside Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-3 in a dominant semifinal on Thursday. The top-seeded Belarusian dictated the match, unleashing relentless power and razor-sharp accuracy. The contest unfolded against a backdrop of fierce competition and mounting geopolitical tensions.
Next, Sabalenka will face the winner of the late semi-final between Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina at Rod Laver Arena. She now targets her third Melbourne Park title in four years. She also aims for her fifth Grand Slam crown.
“I just cannot believe it,” Sabalenka said after the match. “It’s an incredible achievement, but the job is not done. She is a tough opponent and played incredible tennis all week.”
Svitolina Struggles Against World Number One
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 continues to affect the sport. Belarus served as a staging ground during the conflict. As a result, officials barred Russian and Belarusian players from representing their nations at major tournaments. Svitolina has spoken openly about the mental strain of these matchups.
She hoped to bring her nation “light” at the Australian Open. However, Sabalenka quickly crushed those hopes with aggressive shot-making.
Despite the loss, the 31-year-old Svitolina showed resilience. She struck a forehand winner on the first return point. She fought for every rally. Still, Sabalenka soon imposed her game. She pushed Svitolina deep behind the baseline and forced repeated errors.
Tension surfaced early at 2-1. Officials awarded Svitolina a point mid-rally after penalizing Sabalenka for a late grunt. Sabalenka demanded a review, but umpires upheld the call. She responded immediately by breaking serve. She then held confidently for a 4-1 lead.
Sabalenka fired a sizzling cross-court backhand to convert her third set point. She roared “Let’s go!” as the crowd reacted. In the second set, Svitolina briefly fought back by breaking serve early. Sabalenka quickly answered. She broke back twice and regained full control.
Sabalenka Makes History with Fourth Consecutive Final
Sabalenka etched her name into history by reaching four straight Australian Open finals. Only Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Martina Hingis achieved the feat in the professional era.
“It’s very difficult playing a world number one in this form,” Svitolina admitted while praising Sabalenka’s performance.
In the closing stages, Sabalenka fended off a vital break point with a blistering forehand winner down the line before carving out two match points with an explosive serve. A confident forehand winner down the line sealed the victory, punching her ticket to the final.
With this victory, Sabalenka strengthens her claim for another Grand Slam title. She also reinforces her dominance at Melbourne Park. Now, she awaits either Pegula or Rybakina for the championship clash.
