Aryna Sabalenka advances to Australian Open final with victory over Elina Svitolina
Aryna Sabalenka powered into her fourth successive Australian Open final on Thursday, overwhelming Elina Svitolina with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 triumph at Rod Laver Arena, reports BritPanorama.
The world number one required just 76 minutes to dispatch the twelfth seed, continuing her remarkable run at Melbourne Park without dropping a single set throughout the tournament. This impressive feat positions her among legendary players Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Martina Hingis, who have also reached four consecutive finals at this Grand Slam event.
Sabalenka, who fell to Madison Keys in last year’s final, now aims to claim her third Melbourne Park crown when she contests Saturday’s final. The match was notable not only for the scoreline but also for the absence of a customary handshake between the competitors — a decision made by Tennis Australia due to the ongoing tensions regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
The organizers stated, “At the conclusion of the match, there will be no handshake between the players. We appreciate your respect for both athletes during and following the match.” This arrangement highlights the fraught dynamics surrounding Ukrainian players, who have consistently declined to engage in post-match greetings with Russian and Belarusian opponents.
Sabalenka displayed a devastating level of play, striking 28 winners throughout the encounter, including 19 in a commanding opening set. The only moment of visible frustration came when she was penalized for hindrance after a grunt led to a call from officials. Despite a video review, the decision stood, prompting a thumbs-down gesture from the Belarusian.
Svitolina, who had performed superbly leading up to the match, did manage an early break at the start of the second set, establishing a 2-0 lead as Sabalenka grappled with unforced errors. However, Sabalenka quickly regained her composure, winning five consecutive games to take control of the match.
Following her victory, a visibly delighted Sabalenka expressed disbelief at advancing to the final. “I cannot believe that honestly and that’s an incredible achievement, but the job’s not done yet,” she remarked, offering warm words for her defeated opponent despite the frosty circumstances surrounding their encounter.
“Super happy with the win. She’s a super tough opponent, was playing incredible tennis throughout the whole week and happy to be through,” Sabalenka continued. She will now await the winner of the semi-final between world number six Jessica Pegula and fifth seed Elena Rybakina to determine her opponent in Saturday’s championship match.
As the final approaches, anticipation builds around Sabalenka’s pursuit of glory in Melbourne, marking yet another chapter in her remarkable career.
