Aryna Sabalenka will face Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final after
overpowering unseeded Magda Linette 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 in a semi-final played
in chilly conditions on Rod Laver Arena on Thursday. Fifth seed Sabalenka’s
maiden Grand Slam final appearance will be against the Wimbledon champion,
who earlier beat Victoria Azarenka in straight sets.”I’m super happy, super happy that I was able to get this win,” said the
Belarusian, who had been hoping to play her compatriot Azarenka in
Saturday’s showpiece.
overpowering unseeded Magda Linette 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 in a semi-final played
in chilly conditions on Rod Laver Arena on Thursday. Fifth seed Sabalenka’s
maiden Grand Slam final appearance will be against the Wimbledon champion,
who earlier beat Victoria Azarenka in straight sets.”I’m super happy, super happy that I was able to get this win,” said the
Belarusian, who had been hoping to play her compatriot Azarenka in
Saturday’s showpiece.
“Magda’s an unbelievable player. She played really great tennis,” added the
24-year-old.
Sabalenka came into the match as many observers’ favourite for the
Melbourne crown but she had never won a Grand Slam semi-final in three
previous attempts.
She had led world number one Iga Swiatek 4-2 in the third set of their US
Open semi-final in September before a spectacular meltdown where she lost
16 of the last 20 points.
That sort of mental baggage in tennis is always lurking, especially for
someone as emotional as Sabalenka, who has admitted to being stymied by
nerves in the past.
