"Not even a point penalty for hindrance slowed Aryna Sabalenka's run to a fourth consecutive Australian Open final. The top-ranked Sabalenka overpowered Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-3 on Thursday night to move within one victory of a third Australian Open title in four years. The Belarusian will play the winner of the second semifinal between sixth-seeded Jessica Pegula and fifth-seeded Elena Rybakina, who won Wimbledon in 2022 and was runner-up in Australia to Sabalenka in 2023."
"All four players reached the semifinals without dropping a set -- a first in Australia in 56 years -- and Sabalenka and Svitolina were each on 10-match winning streaks to start the season after titles in warmup events. Sabalenka kept both of her streaks alive. She hit 19 winners and broke Svitolina's serve twice in the first set. She finished with 29 winners to 12 for her Ukrainian rival."
Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-3 to reach a fourth consecutive Australian Open final and remains one victory away from a third title in four years. All four semifinalists reached that round without dropping a set, a first in Australia in 56 years. Sabalenka hit 29 winners to Svitolina's 12 and broke serve twice in the first set. A hindrance point was called early when an umpire deemed a prolonged grunt after a shanked forehand interfered. No handshake or group photo occurred at the net between the players. Sabalenka will face the winner of Pegula versus Rybakina.
Read at ESPN.com
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