Aryna Sabalenka is into a fourth consecutive
Australian Open final after taking down
Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-3 in a dominant display.
It was a brilliant showing of tennis from the world number one, who proved why she is the dominant force Down Under. It was hard to see Svitolina getting back into the match with
Sabalenka continuously hitting powerful shots her way, unable to stop then.
The four-time Grand Slam champion won 69% of first serve points, 67% of second serve points and hit a huge 29 winners compared to her opponent's 12. She also converted over half of the break points offered, completing a very solid showing.
Sabalenka races into the final
Svitolina was actually the quicker out of the blocks, creating two break point chances. She would be needing to take these chances throughout, but those opening two were not taken as Sabalenka survived an early scare to go in front.
In the fourth game, she broke after Svitolina failed to hold. It was the second of a three game spurt from the Belarusian which set the tone for the rest of the match. Her intense powerful play was putting Svitolina against the back wall, making her struggle to keep up with the relentless barrage oncoming.
After saving a break point, the Ukrainian managed to get a game on the board to make it 4-2, but was unable to make any inroads on a comeback in the set as Sabalenka ruthlessly clinched it with a break of serve right at the end.
The pattern would be altered in the second set as frustrations started to creep into the Sabalenka game. Svitolina was able to break right at the start of the set in clinical fashion before two holds to love from the pair saw the score at 2-1. This was the start of the end for Svitolina's brilliant
Australian open campaign as Sabalenka would go on to win five games in a row. This included three breaks and two holds to love, a brilliant reaction from Sabalenka.
Svitolina would be jumping up into the top 10 at the end of proceedings, and was still keeping her head high as she prolonged this semi-final bout. It was all to be undone by Sabalenka who served it out for the match and another Grand Slam final in Australia.
She continues in the rich vein of form from last year, where she made three major finals. She will face either Jessica Pegula or Elena Rybakina in the prestigious final.