Aryna Sabalenka storms into fourth straight Australian Open final

Aryna Sabalenka is now just one match away from claiming her third career title at the Australian Open after emphatically dispatching No. 12 seed Elina Svitolina under the lights on Rod Laver Arena.

The top seed broke through Svitolina’s rock-solid defense to secure a 6-2, 6-3 victory on Thursday, powering into her fourth consecutive Australian Open final. Sabalenka lifted back-to-back titles in Melbourne before finishing runner-up to Madison Keys last year.

Read More: Australian Open Women's SF Preview: Sabalenka vs. Svitolina, Rybakina vs. Pegula

Svitolina, 31, was contesting her fourth Grand Slam semifinal and seeking a maiden major final.

Sabalenka entered the clash leading their head-to-head 5-1, though Svitolina carried added motivation as Ukraine’s top-ranked woman facing the Belarusian world No. 1.

It was a meeting between two of the most in-form players of 2026. Both came into the semifinal with 10-0 records to start the season—Sabalenka after winning the WTA 500 in Brisbane, and Svitolina after claiming the WTA 250 title in Auckland—and neither had dropped a set en route to the final four.

On Thursday in Melbourne, Sabalenka looked locked in from the outset. She received a hindrance call at 2-1, though Svitolina showed little reaction to her opponent's extended grunt.

It only seemed to ignite Sabalenka, who broke serve emphatically soon after and only grew more dominant as the match wore on. She repeatedly pressured Svitolina’s serve and earned break points to extend her lead to 5-1. Though Svitolina fended those off, Sabalenka broke again to seal the opening set. She struck 19 winners to Svitolina’s seven in the first frame and carried that aggression into the second.

Svitolina managed an early break in the second set, but Sabalenka immediately responded, breaking straight back to regain control. From there, the world No. 1 surged to victory in one hour and 23 minutes.

Sabalenka will face the winner of the semifinal between No. 5 seed Elena Rybakina and No. 6 seed Jessica Pegula.

There was some consolation for Svitolina, who is set to return to the Top 10 next week for the first time since October 2021.

More to follow...