Belarusian hits 29 winners in 6-2, 6-3 victory
Controversy over penalty for mid-point grunt in first set
Aryna Sabalenka overcame a controversial penalty for a mid-point grunt to rumble over the top of Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the Australian Open semi-final on Thursday to reach her fourth straight final at Melbourne Park.
The world No 1 suppressed Svitolina’s mid-match momentum in a 6-2, 6-3 victory in just 77 minutes on Rod Laver Arena thanks to a dominant display of power tennis.
Sabalenka said she was wary given Svitolina’s impressive Melbourne Park run, and had wanted to play aggressively. “I felt like I had to step in and push as much pressure as I could back on her, and I’m glad the level was there today,” she said on court, before adding that while she was proud to have progressed to the final without dropping a set “ the job is not done”.
