Scintillating Sabalenka matches Hingis in reaching fourth Australian Open final in a row

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Aryna Sabalenka has her chance for Australian Open redemption after equalling Martina Hingis’ feat of reaching a fourth straight women’s singles final at Melbourne Park.

The world No.1 was in no mood for a contest on Thursday night, thrashing Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-3 – with only a minor lapse to start the second set – in one of her most authoritative displays in Australia, particularly this late in the tournament.

Aryna Sabalenka lets out a thunderous roar during her dominant win.

Hingis was the last woman to make the Australian Open final on at least four consecutive occasions, featuring in each one from 1997 to 2002, including winning the first three.

“I cannot believe that, honestly – that’s an incredible achievement. But the job is not done yet,” Sabalenka said of making another final.

“I’m super happy with the win. [Svitolina]’s such a tough opponent … she was incredible against Mirra [Andreeva] and Coco [Gauff], and overall throughout the tournament, and I felt like I had to step in and put as much pressure as I could back on her.

“I’m glad that the level was there today. I played great tennis, and I’m happy to get this win in straight sets.”

Sabalenka awaits the winner of the second semi-final between Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina, who she beat for the first of her two Australian Open titles in 2023. Pegula lost the 2024 US Open final to Sabalenka.

American Madison Keys spoiled Sabalenka’s bid for a title hat-trick at Melbourne Park last year, outlasting her in a three-set classic, but she has continued to reach the latter stages of grand slams at an extraordinary rate.

Sabalenka has advanced to the semi-finals or better at 11 of her past 12 majors, during an incredible period when she won all four of her grand slam titles and never lost before the quarter-finals.

Sabalenka’s dominant performance extended an underwhelming fortnight of mismatches, leaving the Rod Laver Arena crowd’s entertainment to come from watching the Belarusian’s sustained racquet fireworks, which were all the more impressive because of how few mistakes she made.

The 27-year-old blasted nearly double as many winners as unforced errors (29 to 15), and was unforgiving whenever Svitolina offered her anything short.

She also overcame a controversial hindrance call on the first point of the fourth game, where the chair umpire ruled her grunt had lasted too long.

A subsequent video review upheld that decision, which Sabalenka gave a thumbs-down reaction to, but she ended up securing the first break in that game after overwhelming Svitolina from the back of the court. But Sabalenka was still bemused about the call post-match.

“That’s never happened to me, especially with my grunting,” she said.

Elina Svitolina had her moments but was no match for Sabalenka in their semi-final.

“It’s so off, I think … the ball was deep, and the bounce was wrong, and it was just like the timing. I was exhaling, and it just happened naturally. Then she called it, and I was, like, ‘What? What is wrong with you?’.

“I think it was the wrong call, but whatever. How do I say in a nice way? She really pissed me off, and it actually helped me and benefited my game. I was more aggressive. I was not happy with the call, so it really helped me to get that game.”

Sabalenka’s only lapse was a loose game on serve to start the second set, which ended with back-to-back unforced errors and included a separate double fault – but she was back on serve by the fourth game and never looked back.

Svitolina, who will return to the top 10 next week for the first time since the birth of her daughter with French player Gael Monfils in October 2022, said Sabalenka was “on fire”.

A Ukrainian flag seen in the crowd for the women’s semi-final between Sabalenka and Svitolina.

“I feel like she feels very comfortable here on those courts. She’s won here a couple of times, so I think she has this confidence playing here,” Svitolina said.

“I wish I could put a bit more pressure with my serve, but I think she had answers on everything today.”