Australian Open LIVE - Aryna Sabalenka beats Magda Linette in straight sets to reach first Grand Slam final

M. Linette vs A. Sabalenka | Australian Open

Women's Singles | Semi-final | 26.01.2023 | Rod Laver Arena

Completed

M. Linette

6¹

A. Sabalenka (5)

7⁷

Live

Live Updates

ByAlasdair Mackenzie

Updated 26/01/2023 at 12:48 GMT

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Highlights

12:45

SEE YOU TOMORROW

That's all for our live coverage today, but join us again tomorrow for full live coverage of the men's semi-finals.

In the meantime, head over to the website for all the reaction and analysis from today's wins for Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka.

Tennis news - Top stories, videos & results - Eurosport

12:40

WATCH - SABALENKA REACTS TO WIN

Here's what Sabalenka had to say on court after her win.

'I started to trust myself and played great tennis' - Sabalenka on beating Linette

12:36

WATCH - SABALENKA CLINCHES PLACE IN FINAL

Credit to Magda Linette for a fantastic run at this year's Australian Open, but Sabalenka was on another level today.

Sabalenka reaches Australian Open final after being totally destructive against Linette

12:30

REPORT - SABALENKA POWERS INTO FINAL

What a performance from Sabalenka. Have a read of our full report here:

Australian Open

Rybakina powers past Azarenka to reach final

26/01/2023 at 11:26

12:28

ARYNA'S ON FIRE

Sabalenka kisses her biceps after being told that she's been hitting the ball almost as powerfully as the men in the on-court interview!

12: 25

GAME, SET, MATCH - SABALENKA TO FACE RYBAKINA IN FINAL

LINETTE 6-7 (1-7) 2-6 SABALENKA

Sabalenka is into her first Grand Slam final! The fifth seed will face Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in Saturday's showcase match after an impressive straight-sets win here over surprise package Magda Linette.

A performance of power and precision ends on a slightly nervy note as she double-faults and is taken to 30-30.

But Sabalenka finishes with a flourish as an ace sets up match point, before a forehand winner completes the job.

Image credit: Getty Images

12:21

WATCH - SABALENKA CLINCHES SET ONE

...and now she's serving for the match.

Sabalenka takes the opening set on a tie-break with 'too much power'

12:21

LINETTE 6-7 (1-7) 2-5 SABALENKA*

Linette steers a backhand wide, and a second unforced error puts the pressure on at 0-30.

She pulls one point back, but Sabalenka grinds her down in the following rally and it's two match points.

Sabalenka puts the first one in the net before launching a forehand long on the second. Linette lives on, and saves a third match point in deuce as Aryna's forehand is off target.

The next two points go the Pole's way, and she has made sure Sabalenka has to serve for the match.

12:13

*LINETTE 6-7 (1-7) 1-5 SABALENKA

Well now! Linette won't go down without a fight and zings a backhand down the line to set up two break points at 40-15.

Sabalenka rises to the challenge with a tight angled forehand saving the first, and an unforced error from Linette sees off the second.

Magda wins a third in deuce, but ace No.5 from Sabalenka sees that one off. A winner and a big serve follow for a magnificent hold from the Belarusian.

12:06

LINETTE 6-7 (1-7) 1-4 SABALENKA*

Sabalenka is really putting the squeeze on now as her relentless power helps her go 30-0 up on Linette's serve.

Magda puts the next shot in the net and it's three break points. She saves the first, but is then wrong-footed by Sabalenka as the Belarusian goes for guile rather than power for a change. Two breaks for the fifth seed, she's cruising now.

12:03

*LINETTE 6-7 (1-7) 1-3 SABALENKA

Linette applies some pressure, but Sabalenka gets the hold to consolidate her break and her roar of celebration shows she knows just how important that was.

11:58

LINETTE 6-7 (1-7) 1-2 SABALENKA*

Sabalenka applies more pressure on the Linette serve and earns a break point at 30-40.

A huge return is too hot to handle for the Pole and it's an early break for the fifth seed!

She's a set and a break up.

11:55

*LINETTE 6-7 (1-7) 1-1 SABALENKA

Time for Sabalenka to face some pressure, as she lands an ace but then produces an unforced error for 30-30.

No matter. The fifth seed forces the error before ripping a huge forehand winner and screaming 'Come on!'

11:52

ARYNA SABALENKA, TIEBREAK MACHINE

11:51

LINETTE 6-7 (1-7) 1-0 SABALENKA*

Things aren't looking good for Linette as she quickly goes 0-30 down, but there's a pump of the fist from the Pole as she serves well to bring it back level.

She successfully overcomes the pressure to take the next two points and crucial hold.

11:49

WATCH - RYBAKINA V AZARENKA HIGHLIGHTS

You can catch the highlights of Rybakina's win earlier here. Meanwhile, the second set is just getting underway.

Rybakina battles past Azarenka to reach final - Australian Open highlights

11:43

SABALENKA WINS THE FIRST SET

LINETTE 6-7 (1-7) SABALENKA

Linette finally gets on the board as Sabalenka's lob drifts long, but the fifth seed has another five set points to play with.

A forehand has too much power for Linette, whose return goes long, and the opening set goes to Sabalenka. That was a superb performance in the tiebreak.

Image credit: Getty Images

11:41

LINETTE 6-6 (0-6) SABALENKA

A booming serve from the Belarusian increases her lead, followed by an ace that clips the outside of the line. 5-0.

Sabalenka then races forward to the net to dispatch a winner and she's one point from taking the set. She has really gone up a gear in this tiebreak.

11:39

LINETTE 6-6 (0-3) SABALENKA

It's a statement start from Sabalenka, who hammers a forehand winner down the line at 131 km/h.

She then produces two blistering backhands to take a double mini-break. Linette with it all to do from here.

11:36

LINETTE 6-6 SABALENKA

It's a nervy start from Linette, who goes 0-30 down after her first double fault of the match.

Sabalenka charges up a forehand but it ends up in the net, and Linette hits a cross-court winner to level it up.

A superbly-placed forehand into the corner edges the Pole in front, but Sabalenka rips a forehand winner in response to go to deuce.

The Belarusian misses a big chance by netting with Linette on the run, and she's made to pay as a backhand from the Pole clips the net on its way down the line. Tiebreak coming up!