Aryna Sabalenka’s Pursuit of a Third Australian Open Title

The Australian Open semi-finals are underway, and all eyes are on Aryna Sabalenka as she targets her third Melbourne title in four years. The world number one faced a tough challenge from Elina Svitolina, with a place in Sunday’s final at stake. This match, alongside Elena Rybakina versus Jessica Pegula, promised a thrilling day of tennis action.

Sabalenka vs. Svitolina: A Detailed Recap

The match began with a slight edge to Svitolina, but Sabalenka quickly found her rhythm. An early controversy arose with a ‘hindrance’ call against Sabalenka, leaving both players and commentators puzzled. Abigail Johnson, commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, noted the unusual nature of the call, questioning how often players alter their grunts mid-match. Despite the distraction, Sabalenka demonstrated exceptional focus, even displaying a ‘mocking’ smile after the call.

Key Moments from the Match

• Early Break: Sabalenka secured the first break of the contest with a devastating forehand, showcasing her aggressive play.
• Cagey Start: Initially, Sabalenka appeared a bit cautious, but quickly ignited, particularly after the umpire’s decision.
• Svitolina’s Resilience: Svitolina displayed moments of brilliance, including a stunning angled winner at the net, but struggled to maintain consistency.
• Sabalenka’s Dominance: Sabalenka’s powerful forehands and backhands proved too much for Svitolina, ultimately leading to her victory.

Svitolina, aiming for her first Grand Slam final, had returned to the sport after having her daughter Skai in 2022 with a more aggressive approach. She has doubled her career total of semi-final appearances over the past three years. However, Sabalenka’s experience and power proved decisive.

Sabalenka’s Impressive Record

Aryna Sabalenka has established herself as a force to be reckoned with at the Australian Open, having lost only one of her past 25 matches at Melbourne Park. Her consistency at major tournaments is remarkable, reaching the semi-finals in 14 of her last 17 contested majors. This demonstrates her comfort and success at the business end of Grand Slam events.

Sabalenka admitted to being “emotionally all over the place” earlier in the tournament, a challenge she’s addressed with the help of a psychologist. She’s learned to focus on the right things, a crucial development after losing two Grand Slam finals in 2023 and 2024.

Other Notable Results

In other matches, Great Britain’s Neal Skupski and American Christian Harrison advanced to the men’s doubles final. In wheelchair tennis, Alfie Hewett reached the semi-finals of the men’s wheelchair singles, while Andy Lapthorne and Heath Davidson will contest the quad doubles final.

Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula also secured their spots in the semi-finals, defeating Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova respectively. They will face each other in today’s second semi-final.

Looking Ahead

Aryna Sabalenka is now two wins away from continuing her reign of dominance at the Australian Open. Can she secure her third title in four years and cement her status as one of the world’s top players? Stay tuned for further updates and analysis as the tournament progresses!

Listen live to the Australian Open women’s semi-finals on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds (UK only).