World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has once again made the Australian Open final her personal territory. In a match defined by high-octane power and palpable geopolitical tension, the Belarusian top seed defeated Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-3 to reach her fourth consecutive final at Melbourne Park.
The match wasn't without drama. In the fourth game of the first set, Sabalenka was penalized under the ITF's Rule 26 for a "hindrance" violation. After letting out a late grunt on a ball she thought was going out, the chair umpire awarded the point to Svitolina.
The review: Sabalenka demanded a video review, but the technology upheld the original decision.
The reaction: Rather than crumbling, Sabalenka used the frustration as fuel. "It actually helped," she later admitted. "I was more aggressive." She immediately broke Svitolina’s serve to take a 3-1 lead.
Svitolina, the 12th seed, entered the match undefeated in 2026 after a title run in Auckland. While she fought tenaciously; even opening the second set with a 2-0 lead, Sabalenka’s "second shot" was simply too heavy to handle.
The blitz: Trailing 0-2 in the second set, Sabalenka ignited, winning 12 of the next 13 points to storm into a 3-2 lead.
The dominant second serve: Sabalenka won an incredible 75% of her second-serve points, effectively neutralizing Svitolina’s return game.
Efficiency: Sabalenka finished with 29 winners, often stretching Svitolina wide and finishing points with ruthless cross-court forehands.
Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine; with Belarus serving as a staging ground, encounters between these nations' players have carried significant weight. While Svitolina hoped to bring "light" to her nation after a difficult winter, Sabalenka’s efficiency left no room for an upset. Despite the loss, Svitolina’s deep run secures her return to the WTA Top 10 on Monday.
Sabalenka now faces Elena Rybakina in a Saturday final- a rematch of the 2023 Australian Open decider. Sabalenka, who has reached 11 finals since last January, is focused on avoiding the mental lapses that cost her several big titles in 2025.
My mentality is like I’m ready to do whatever... I’m ready to go out there and fight with what I have and do everything I can
Aryna Sabalenka
