Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina are set for a thrilling Australian Open final showdown after both secured commanding victories in their semi-final matches on Thursday night. The highly anticipated clash marks a rematch of the 2023 decider, promising an exciting conclusion to the women's singles tournament at Melbourne Park.
Dominant Semi-Final Performances Set Stage
Two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka delivered a ruthless performance against Elina Svitolina, dispatching her opponent 6-2, 6-3 in a display of power and precision. The Belarusian star controlled the match from the outset, demonstrating why she remains one of the tournament favorites.
Meanwhile, fifth-seeded Elena Rybakina overcame a late stumble to secure her place in the final with a 6-3, 7-6(7) victory over American sixth seed Jessica Pegula. The Kazakh star started strongly, dominating with her powerful serve and groundstrokes throughout the opening set.
Tournament Trend of Straight-Sets Matches Continues
The straight-sets victories continue a remarkable pattern that has defined this year's Australian Open. All four quarter-final matches concluded in just two sets, while only one fourth-round encounter extended to three sets. This means just one of the past fourteen matches in the tournament has required a deciding set, leaving some fans disappointed by the lack of competitive contests at the business end of the competition.
Across the entire tournament, thirty-seven matches have progressed to three sets, representing a decrease from forty-three matches in the 2025 edition. However, it's the scarcity of close contests during the crucial later stages that has generated the most discussion among tennis enthusiasts and analysts.
Rybakina's Rollercoaster Semi-Final
Elena Rybakina began her semi-final match against Jessica Pegula in spectacular fashion, winning the opening three games with near-flawless tennis. Her serve proved particularly devastating, firing a series of powerful deliveries that the American struggled to handle effectively.
After comfortably securing the first set, Rybakina established an early break in the second set, appearing headed for a straightforward victory. Pegula managed to break back temporarily, halting her opponent's momentum, but immediately surrendered her own serve to return the advantage to Rybakina.
The match seemed destined for a routine conclusion until Rybakina squandered three match points on Pegula's serve at 5-3. Nerves then affected the Kazakh player as she dropped her own serve, allowing Pegula back into contention. Rybakina broke again quickly but surrendered her serve once more before finally regaining composure in the tiebreaker.
In the tense tiebreak, Rybakina saved two set points before finally sealing victory nearly thirty minutes after her initial match point opportunity. This hard-fought win secures her third grand slam final appearance, having previously won Wimbledon in 2022 and lost to Sabalenka in the 2023 Australian Open final.
Contrasting Paths for the Finalists
For Jessica Pegula, the semi-final defeat represents both her best-ever performance at Melbourne Park and consecutive semi-final losses at grand slam tournaments, having suffered the same fate at last year's US Open. Despite the disappointment, her consistent performances at major tournaments demonstrate her growing stature in women's tennis.
The men's tournament has followed a similar pattern, with just one quarter-final and one fourth-round match extending beyond three sets. This consistency across both draws highlights the dominant performances from top seeds throughout the competition.
Anticipated Final Rematch
The Saturday night final promises to deliver the competitive drama that has been somewhat lacking in recent matches. Their 2023 encounter required three tight sets before Sabalenka eventually prevailed, and fans will be hoping for similarly compelling tennis in this year's championship match.
Both players enter the final in excellent form, with Sabalenka seeking her third Australian Open title and Rybakina aiming to add a second grand slam trophy to her collection. The stage is set for what could become another classic chapter in Australian Open history.
