Sabalenka books showdown with Rybakina in final
MELBOURNE, Australia — Aryna Sabalenka will take on Elena Rybakina in a power battle in the women’s final of the Australian Open.
After Rybakina defeated Victoria Azarenka, Sabalenka reached her first Grand Slam singles final with a 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 victory over unseeded Magda Linette of Poland.
The Belarusian hit 33 winners and maintained her record of not losing a set through 10 matches so far this season.
“I’m super happy that I was able to get this win,” Sabalenka said. “(Linette is) an unbelievable player, she played great tennis. I didn’t start really well and in the tiebreak I found my rhythm, started trusting myself and going for my shots.”
While Linette did everything she could to deny Sabalenka a rhythm, this felt a bit like a contest between the fifth seed and herself.
One of the most outwardly emotional players on tour, she has credited a new commitment to a calmer mindset for her consistency so far this season.
But, with memories of three Grand Slam semifinal losses fresh in her mind, Sabalenka admitted this was a big test of whether she could keep her head.
The first game did not appear to bode well as the 24-year-old made three unforced errors to drop serve but she quickly recovered and from there began to play really well.
It was to Linette’s credit that, playing in the biggest match of her life, she did not allow herself to be completely overpowered and held her serve to force a first-set tiebreak.
But there Sabalenka was untouchable, opening up a 6-0 lead, and in the second set she was simply too strong for Linette, who has enjoyed a breakthrough Grand Slam at the age of 30.