Aryna Sabalenka proves too strong for brave Magda Linette to book Elena Rybakina showdown at Australian Open
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ByEurosport
Updated 26/01/2023 at 12:45 GMT
Aryna Sabalenka has set up an Australian Open final showdown with Elena Rybakina after a straight sets semi-final victory over Magda Linette. The Pole had defied the odds to reach the final four but ultimately could not contend with the power of Sabalenka, who makes her first Grand Slam final. Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk
Sabalenka takes the opening set on a tie-break with 'too much power'
Aryna Sabalenka reached her first Grand Slam final after overcoming surprise Australian Open semi-finalist Magda Linette 7-6(1) 6-2.
It was Linette who got off to the perfect start as she broke to love in the opening game of the match, but Sabalenka soon restored parity at 2-2 with the set then staying on serve.
Sabalenka then upped the gears to dominate the tie-breaker 7-1 and take the opening set.
With the final now in her sights, the 24-year-old powered through the second set and although Linette saved three match points to force her opponent to serve it out, the result was not in doubt.
She now faces Elena Rybakina, who earlier beat Victoria Azarenka, as both women look to win the tournament for the first time.
"I’m super happy that I was able to get the win," said Sabalenka, who had lost in her previous three Grand Slam semi-finals.
"Linette is an unbelievable player, and played really well. I didn’t start well, but found my rhythm in the tie-break. I started trusting myself to go for more shots."
Sabalenka has been the form player on the WTA Tour this year and is now 10-0 in singles matches without dropping a set.
Having had wobbles in the past, particularly on serve, this was a confident and assured performance, and once Sabalenka found her groove with her powerful hitting there only looked one winner.
Linette, who had beaten world No. 4 Caroline Garcia and former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final, started well enough, breaking to love after a nervy opening from Sabalenka.
Sabalenka was under pressure again at 30-30 in her next service game but roared in celebration after finding the line with a brilliant forehand winner on the run.
Linette was then broken from 40-0 ahead as Sabalenka started to demonstrate her power.
Linette crushed a winner of her own down the line and stuck with Sabalenka’s strong hitting to take the set to a tie-break.
Sabalenka found another level in the breaker, winning the first six points in a row as she took her winner count for the match to 20.
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'I started to trust myself and played great tennis' - Sabalenka on beating Linette
Linette couldn’t recover and that set the tone for a more one-sided second set.
As Linette’s first-serve percentage dropped from 78% in the first set to 56% in the second, Sabalenka’s serve improved and her winner count continued to rise.
The fifth seed broke twice as she soared into a 5-1 lead to close on victory.
Linette managed some late resistance as she fended off three match points and held serve.
However, it was only delaying the inevitable as Sabalenka served it out next game to clinch her place in the final.
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Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk
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