Aryna Sabalenka’s Australian Open campaign rolled on unstoppable Thursday as the world No. 1 dispatched Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-3 in straight sets, earning a spot in her fourth successive final at the year’s first major.
Played under the lights at Rod Laver Arena, the semifinal unfolded as a one-woman show. Sabalenka gripped the match early, her serve proving unbreachable with 67% first-serve points won and 79% on seconds – stats that dwarfed Svitolina’s 56% and 50%. The Belarusian broke four times from seven chances, while limiting her foe to a single break from four, finishing with a 65-46 edge in total points after just one hour.
Svitolina, the resilient Ukrainian through a stellar tournament, couldn’t match Sabalenka’s pace or power, undone by three double faults and constant defensive scrambles. Now, Sabalenka eyes Saturday’s final against either Elena Rybakina or Jessica Pegula, a stage for payback after her 2023 loss to Madison Keys.
‘I feel amazing about this achievement, but there’s more work ahead,’ Sabalenka told the crowd. ‘Elina’s a fighter; she dominated the draw until now. I watched her closely and decided to attack relentlessly. My game clicked perfectly for the straight-sets victory.’
With two titles already in Melbourne, Sabalenka’s aura of invincibility grows. Her 22-match winning streak here highlights why she’s the player to beat. As anticipation builds for the finale, Sabalenka remains focused: victory is within grasp, and she’s primed to seize it.