Melbourne, Jan 29: World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka stormed into the Australian Open 2026 final with a commanding straight-sets victory over Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday. The Belarusian star showcased her trademark power and precision to secure a 6-2, 6-3 win in just over an hour, marking her fourth consecutive Australian Open final appearance.

From the very first game, Sabalenka dictated the tempo, using her aggressive baseline play and strong serving to keep Svitolina under relentless pressure. She won 67% of her points on first serve and an impressive 79% on second serve, leaving little room for her opponent to mount a challenge.

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Svitolina, who had enjoyed a strong run in the tournament, struggled to cope with Sabalenka’s pace and consistency. The Ukrainian managed to win only 56% of her first-serve points and 50% on her second, while committing three double faults. Sabalenka capitalized on these lapses, converting four of her seven break-point opportunities. Svitolina managed just one break from four chances, highlighting the one-sided nature of the contest.

Overall, Sabalenka won 65 points compared to Svitolina’s 46, underlining her dominance. Speaking after the match, the two-time Australian Open champion expressed satisfaction but remained focused on the bigger prize. “An incredible achievement, but the job is not done yet,” she said. “She is such a tough opponent, and I knew I had to put pressure back on her. I’m glad I played great tennis today and got the win in straight sets.”

Sabalenka, who previously lost the 2023 final to Madison Keys, is now eyeing her third Australian Open crown. She will face either Elena Rybakina or Jessica Pegula in Saturday’s final in Melbourne. With her current form and confidence, Sabalenka looks well-positioned to continue her golden run and cement her legacy at the year’s first Grand Slam.