Sabalenka advances to Australian Open final

Belarus’ world number one Aryna Sabalenka has reached her fourth straight Australian Open final.


In today’s first semifinal, the Belarusian defeated Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. The match lasted one hour and 16 minutes.


On her way to the final, Aryna Sabalenka dispatched France’s Tiantsoa Rakotomanga, China’s Zhuoxuan Bai, Austria’s Anastasia Potapova, Canada’s Victoria Mboko, and U.S. Iva Jovic, without dropping a single set. Aryna Sabalenka has won the Australian Open twice in a row (2023, 2024), and in 2025, she was defeated in the final by Madison Keys of the USA.

Her opponent in the final was determined in the other semifinal. Kazakhstan’s world number 5 Elena Rybakina proved stronger over Jessica Pegula of the USA.

The women’s final of the season’s first Grand Slam tournament, Sabalenka vs. Rybakina, will take place in Melbourne on 31 January.

Press service of the NOC of Belarus
Photo by the NOC of Belarus