Rybakina to play Sabalenka in Australian Open final

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan has another shot at a major title after reaching the Australian Open final where she will meet Belarusian fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka.

Aryna Sabalenka
Photo: PHOEOSPORT

Rybakina won 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 against Victoria Azarenka, ending the two-time champion’s hopes of winning the title 10 years after her last triumph.

Sabalenka beat Poland’s Magda Linette to reach her first major final.

The powerful 24-year-old won 7-6 (7-1) 6-2 against her unseeded opponent.

Sabalenka was the heavy favourite to beat 30-year-old Linette, who had never been past the third round of a Grand Slam event before, and grew in confidence as the match wore on.

After losing three times in major semi-finals, Sabalenka’s relief was evident after securing her place in Saturday’s showpiece against another big-hitter.

“I wouldn’t say I started really well but in the tie-break I found my rhythm and trusted myself and started going for my shots,” said Sabalenka, who is on a 10-match winning streak after lifting the Adelaide title.

Rybakina, seeded 22nd, will contest her second major final after her triumph at the All England Club last year.

“I’m super happy to be in the final and play one more time here,” she said.

“It was different conditions, I couldn’t play aggressive tennis and couldn’t go so much for my shots but I was happy to win.

“I got a lot of experience from Wimbledon and I want to come on court [for the final] and enjoy the moment.”

In the men’s semi-finals Friday fourth seed Novak Djokovic plays American Tommy Paul and third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas plays 18th seed Karen Khachanov.

-BBC