WTA Australian Open semi-finals Round-up | Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina produce the goods to set up final showdown

The 2026 WTA Australian Open final has been confirmed, with it set to be a repeat of the most recent WTA Finals. Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina both concocted brilliant showings in their semi-final clashes to set up an eagerly anticipated showdown.

Sabalenka was first on court against Elina Svitolina, with both players yet to lose a match in 2026. One of the records had to be broken, and it was Svitolina who could not cope with the world number one, who is through to a fourth consecutive final in this event. This was followed by Rybakina getting the job done against Jessica Pegula in another very commendable performance, even if the ending was very tense and nerve-wracking. The final is set to be played on Saturday, 31st January, with it a carbon copy of the 2023 final at Melbourne Park.

Sabalenka brought a very high level to her match, which is what is expected from a world number one and two-time winner at Melbourne Park. She was too strong for Svitolina, who just could not cope with the power and relentlessness from her opponent. Sabalenka would go on to confirm her spot in a fourth consecutive Australian Open final with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph.

She showcased why she is so dominant in this part of the world, unearthing the great form that saw her reach those other finals, with her desperate to clinch her title back after she lost out last year to Madison Keys. For Svitolina, she was looking for a maiden major final appearance, while also competing in a fourth Grand Slam semi-final.

Svitolina would need to take every chance she could get, and this was showcased in the first game of the match where she failed to take two break points. In the fourth game, Sabalenka got the break of serve needed to accelerate into a 3-1 lead, leaving the Ukrainian to rue her missed chances.

Sabalenka kept her opponent at arm’s length, and in the end, wrapped up the first set with a break of serve, not waiting for the chance to serve it out as she sailed into a 1-0 lead.

The signs were looking good, but fortunes changed when a more frustrated looking Sabalenka found herself 2-0 down after being broken in the first game. Unlike the first set, Svitolina took her chance and was now looking at a pathway back into the match.

Sabalenka recovered the break deficit, which was the first of five consecutive games which really was the nail on the coffin for Svitolina’s Australian Open dreams. A couple of breaks put her 4-2 up, before the 31-year-old squandered a solitary chance to get the set back on serve. Sabalenka would go 5-2 in front before Svitolina ended the barren spell, but it was ultimately nowhere near enough as Sabalenka culminated a complete performance in domineering fashion, earning her spot in another final.

The positive form for Rybakina continues as she produces the goods in a very commanding showing on Rod Laver Arena against Jessica Pegula, with the Kazakh booking her spot in the final with a 6-3, 7-6(7).

The momentum was fully on the Rybakina side of the court right from the off. She held to love before what turned out to be a very crucial break of serve to race into a 2-0 lead. Pegula got her first game on the board, but it was followed by a hold to love from Rybakina, continuing her ominous start.

There was a lot of discourse from the players boxes, as the coaches looked to feed much-needed information to their players. It looked like it was doing more good for Rybakina than Pegula, who had a couple of break points to go 5-1 ahead. The American fought back and avoided more misery. She needed to start making inroads on the Rybakina serve to get back into the match. This task would not be completed with the 26-year-old’s serve working very well. This aided her in seeing out the first set and moving closer to a rematch against Sabalenka in Melbourne.

It looked even more likely when Rybakina broke to move 2-1 ahead. It was a huge blow for the former US Open finalist, who was starting to find some rhythm on court. However, this time she was able to fight her way back into it, breaking instantly to get affairs back level.

It was a golden chance for her to turn the momentum in her favour, but this would not be the case as Rybakina took the reigns once more as a third break on the trot saw her creep back in front, to the dismay of her opponent. This time, Pegula was unable to get back level as Rybakina ended the run of breaks as she led 4-2.

Two holds each saw Rybakina move within one of the match. She almost got it done on the Pegula serve, wasting three match points as Pegula continued to fightback, eventually holding to force Rybakina to serve it out. It looked like she was going to get the job done, but in the nick of time Pegula manages to find a break to keep herself in the match.

Her delight would turn to frustration as she hit her racket on the court after falling a break behind once more. It was a perfect response from the WTA Finals champion, who was hoping not to make the same mistake as of two games ago. This almost occurred when Pegula found herself ahead twice in the game, taking the second opportunity to punish a more tense Rybakina to force a tiebreak.

A couple of costly errors see Pegula fall 3-2 behind, and 4-2 in the favour of Rybakina at the changeover. Pegula gathered her thoughts and won three points in a row to move ahead 5-4. A big first serve brought the tiebreak all square, but onwards from that Pegula would sneak ahead on two occasions to create a brace of set points. These were not taken, with the score at 7-7. An emphatic ace offered a fourth match winning opportunity for Rybakina, with a huge backhand down the line to finally wrap up the match and confirm her spot in the final.