Aryna Sabalenka continues her dominant run at Melbourne Park, securing her fourth consecutive Australian Open final appearance with a decisive 6-2, 6-3 victory over Elina Svitolina on Thursday. The world number one will vie for her third title at the Open-and a fifth Grand Slam championship overall-in a politically charged final against Elena Rybakina. The match unfolded against a backdrop of continued restrictions on Russian and Belarusian players, resulting in a notable display of protest from Svitolina following the contest.
Aryna Sabalenka is heading back to the Australian Open final, powering past Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-3 in a politically charged semifinal on Thursday. The world number one will look to add a third Melbourne Park crown – and fifth Grand Slam title overall – to her resume when she faces Elena Rybakina on Saturday.
“I just cannot believe that. It’s an incredible achievement but the job is not done yet,” Sabalenka said on court after the match. “I’m super happy with the win. She’s such a tough opponent and has been playing incredible tennis the whole week.”
The victory secures Sabalenka’s place as the third woman in the professional era to reach the Australian Open final four years running, joining Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1971-76) and Martina Hingis (1997-2002). This dominant run underscores her status as a perennial contender at the year’s first Grand Slam.
Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, players from Russia and Belarus have been barred from competing under their national flags at Grand Slam tournaments and other tour events. This backdrop added another layer of complexity to Thursday’s match.
As with other Ukrainian players, Svitolina declined to shake hands with her Belarusian opponent following the contest as a protest against the war. An announcement was made before the semifinal at Rod Laver Arena, and a message appeared on the big screen asking fans to “respect” the players’ decision.
Svitolina had expressed the emotional toll of facing players from Belarus and Russia, hoping to deliver a positive message to her nation during a difficult time. However, Sabalenka’s relentless power proved too much to overcome.
The first set saw Sabalenka quickly take control, breaking Svitolina and building a 4-1 lead. A tense moment arose at 2-1 when Svitolina was awarded a point after Sabalenka was penalized for hindering the point with a late grunt. Sabalenka challenged the call, but it stood, and she ultimately converted her third set point with a blistering cross-court backhand to close out the first set 6-2.
Svitolina started the second set brightly, winning the opening game, but Sabalenka quickly responded, breaking back and then again to regain control. Despite facing a break point while trailing 4-2, Sabalenka saved it with a powerful forehand winner and ultimately sealed the match 6-3 with a forehand cross-court winner.
“Gutted not to make it through tonight,” Svitolina told reporters after the match. “Of course, it’s very difficult when you’re playing a world number one on fire.”
The 31-year-old Svitolina fought valiantly throughout the match, showcasing her tenacity from the first point, but Sabalenka’s consistent power proved decisive.
Rybakina overcomes Pegula, sets up 2023 finals rematch
In Thursday’s other semifinal, Elena Rybakina advanced to the final with a 6-3, 7-6(7) victory over sixth-seeded Jessica Pegula. The win sets up a highly anticipated rematch of the 2023 Australian Open women’s singles final against Sabalenka.
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, needed one hour and 40 minutes to defeat the American and secure her spot in Saturday night’s championship match. Sabalenka holds an 8-6 head-to-head advantage over Rybakina, though the pair split their four meetings last year, with Rybakina winning their most recent encounter at the WTA Finals in December.
