Sabalenka storms to fourth straight Australian Open final
Under Melbourne’s glare, Aryna Sabalenka crushed Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-3, extending her hard-court reign while the pressure of perfection only sharpens her edge.
In the charged hush of Rod Laver Arena, Aryna Sabalenka turned the semifinal into her domain, dismantling Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-3 to secure a fourth consecutive Australian Open final. The world No. 1 has now reached eight Grand Slam finals overall, dropping no sets en route just as in her 2023 and 2024 triumphs when she claimed the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. Her path through 2026 mirrors those victories, a blend of raw power and unyielding focus that now sets up a clash with either Jessica Pegula or Elena Rybakina.
Sabalenka’s record against Svitolina improves to 6-1 on the WTA Tour, her dominance on hard courts evident in seven straight major finals since 2023. The Belarusian landed 67% of her first serves, capturing nearly 70% of those points, while her returns forced the Ukrainian into defensive scrambles. Svitolina, winless in 2026 until this match, fought valiantly in her fourth semifinal but couldn’t breach the final barrier.
“To be fair, I thought I was returning today also quite well,” Svitolina said. “I think my serve was not great at all. I think I was returning good, but then her second shot was unbelievable. She was returning well, quick, and then she had another punch coming, the second shot after her serve. I mean, that’s why she’s World No. 1.”
Early pressure forges resolve
The match ignited with Sabalenka facing 15-40 in her opening service game, the crowd’s tension palpable as the season’s weight pressed in. She responded with four straight points, three winners carving through the air to hold and set the tone. Her serve often jammed Svitolina deep, opening angles for crosscourt forehands that exploited the hard-court speed.
A ripple of controversy marked the first break when the chair umpire called a hindrance on Sabalenka for speaking aloud, awarding the point to Svitolina despite the world No. 1’s video review plea. Undeterred, Sabalenka stretched her opponent wide with a slicing serve, then unleashed an inside-out forehand winner that electrified the arena. She saved a game point on the next hold, using deep returns to force errors and claim a 3-1 lead, sealing the set at 6-2 after trading holds.
Svitolina’s forehand dig volley off a Sabalenka drop shot briefly rallied the fans, a flash of her resilience amid the campaign’s first loss. Yet the Ukrainian’s attempts to counter the power often sailed long, contributing to 17 unforced errors against Sabalenka’s 29 winners. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TNT Sports (@tntsports).
Momentum flips in a frenzy
Svitolina seized the second set’s opening break point, then held with a net-cord winner to lead 2-0, her backhand passes slicing down the line with precision. The shift felt seismic, the Ukrainian’s early-season form flickering back to life under the lights. But Sabalenka’s response was ferocious, claiming 12 of the next 13 points to surge ahead 3-2.
This blitz included five winners from the four-time Grand Slam champion, her heavy topspin forehands pinning Svitolina behind the baseline and inducing seven errors. In rallies stretching nine shots or longer, Sabalenka won 8 of 10, her 1–2 pattern—serve into aggressive returns—disrupting any rhythm. The crowd’s roar built with each exchange, the tempo quickening as the Belarusian reclaimed control.
Break seals the surge
At 40-30 in the following game, Svitolina battled through an intense rally, matching power shot for shot until her forehand drifted wide-left, a mishit that drew a palm to her face. A double fault handed the advantage, and Sabalenka broke to lead 4-2, the emotional strain etching lines on the Ukrainian’s resolve. From there, the world No. 1 coasted, her serves stretching wide to create space for down-the-line finishes.
Svitolina’s semifinal push, though falling short, vaults her back into the top 10 of the PIF WTA Rankings, a reward for a season started without defeat. Sabalenka’s undropped sets through the tournament echo her championship runs, her mental steel tested and tempered by the hard-court grind. Awaiting the Pegula-Rybakina winner, she eyes a potential 2023 rematch, where a comeback from 4-6 down proved her clutch mettle.
The Australian Open’s hard courts amplify Sabalenka’s explosive game, her inside-in forehands hugging lines and underspin slices varying the pace to keep opponents off-balance. Melbourne’s unforgiving bounce suits her athleticism, turning pressure into propulsion as she chases a third title. With the final looming, her story pulses with the arena’s energy, ready to etch another chapter in dominance.
