Aryna Sabalenka has reached her fourth consecutive Australian Open final where she will face Elena Rybakina in a battle of the big players.
The world No 1 won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024 before losing in a thriller to Madison Keys last year, and she continued her excellent form in Melbourne with a 6-2 6-3 win against Svitolina.
Rybakina managed to advance to a rematch with Sabalenko, despite faltering in the second set, beating American Jessica Pegula 6-3 7-6 (9-7).
If the final is anything to go by to decide their 2023 trophy, then ticket holders are in for a treat on Saturday, with Sabalenka coming back from down the stretch to win her first title in Melbourne.
The Ukrainian played in her first semi-final here at the age of 31 and will return to the top 10 next week for the first time since before the birth of daughter Skai in 2022, but was beaten by Sabalenka.
Sabalenka is yet to drop a set and said: “I can’t believe it, it’s an amazing achievement, but the work is not done yet. She’s such a tough opponent, she’s just so happy to get through this tough match. I played great tennis.”
A 5-1 record in Sabalenka’s favour, with Svitolina’s only win coming nearly six years ago, told its own story, with the winner 29 to 12 in favor of the top seed.
Svitolina, who was supported from the court by her husband Gael Monfils, probably could have gone without the interference that umpire Louise Azemar Engzel called against Sabalenka at the start of the fourth game.
Engzel ruled that Sabalenka, known for her loud grumbling, shouted after hitting the ball, giving Svitolina the point.
Sabalenka requested a video review, but the original decision stood and, fueled by obvious anger, the four-time Grand Slam singles champion immediately broke serve.
“That’s never actually happened to me,” Sabalenka said. “Especially with my grunting, I think it’s so extraordinary. I exhaled and it just happened naturally. Then she called it, and I was like, ‘What? What’s wrong with you?’
“She really drove me crazy, and it actually helped and benefited my game. I was more aggressive. So if she ever wants to do it again, I want to make sure she’s not afraid of it. Come on, call me. It’s going to help me.”
Her exuberant ground game was more than lacking, and one of her best zingers, a backhand snap, earned her a 19th winner and the first set.
Sabalenka’s only slight wobble came early in the second set when Svitolina won two games in a row, but the 27-year-old responded with five in a row to cement her dominance of the women’s game by reaching her eighth Grand Slam final overall and fifth in the last six tournaments.
Story from the tape: Sabalenka vs. Svitolina
Continuing the attitude of Ukrainian players since the invasion of their country four years ago not to shake hands with Russian or Belarusian players, Svitolina did not acknowledge Sabalenka at the end of the match, quickly leaving the court after the eventual winner flew past her.
Russia’s Mira Andreeva was booed after losing to Svitolina earlier in the tournament, and the crowd interpreted the lack of the traditional gesture as her scolding, but here the fans were told before the contest how it would end.
It’s their decision and I respect it,” said Sabalenka. “I think she knows that I respect her as a player. I know she respects me as a player. That’s all I care about.”
Sabalenka became the third woman in the professional era to reach the finals of the Australian Open four times in a row, after Evonne Gulagong Cowley (1971-76) and Martina Hingis (1997-2002), who each played in six consecutive finals.
Although disappointed with the result, Svitolina said: “I have an amazing opportunity to play on center court here, to represent my country, to do it in a decent way, and to use my words and just be there for my people.”
“When I wake up in the morning, of course I see terrible news, but then I see people watching my matches. They write comments and I think it’s like a big exchange of positive emotions.
“People really live a terrible and scary life in Ukraine, so I shouldn’t be allowed to be really sad, because I’m a very, very happy person.”
Rybakina sets up the Sabalenka final
Rybakina will meet Sabalenka in a rematch of the 2023 Australian Open final
Rybakina has not reached a Grand Slam final since she ran here three years ago, and the Kazakh has had to deal with the consequences of a ban imposed on her coach Stefan Vukov last year for his behavior towards her.
Vukov denied any wrongdoing and Rybakina supported him, and the suspension was subsequently overturned on appeal.
Fifth seed Rybakin got off to a flying start on Rod Laver Arena as the 26-year-old dictated the terms with her trademark hard shots to put pressure on American Pegula, who looked awkward under the lights.
Sixth seed Pegula calmed her nerves and stayed in touch at 4-2 after saving break points, but Rybakina turned up the intensity again and took the opening set with a crosscourt winner to put one foot into the final.
Having finished her 2025 campaign by defeating Sabalenko in the WTA season-ending final to lift the trophy, Rybakina rushed to book her 15th clash with the Belarusian as she broke Pegula for a 2-1 lead in the second set.
A clean forehand winner that gave Rybakina the lead prompted a frustrated response from Pegula, who rallied to break back and later saved three match points to tie the game at 5-5.
Rybakina responded immediately, assisted by the net, but a determined Pegula did not relent and forced a tiebreak where she gambled away two set points before finally disappearing.
The story of the tape: Ribakina vs. Pegula
“I had an epic tiebreak here a few years ago and lost it, it was the longest in the women’s game (lost in a tiebreak 22-20 as part of a loss to Anna Blink in 2024), and I had a little flashback, but I’m super happy it turned around in the end,” Rybakina said.
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