World No 1 is on the cusp of fifth grand slam title, but former Wimbledon champion has proved she can cause problems
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t the end of yet another semi-final in Melbourne on Thursday night, Aryna Sabalenka slammed the door shut on Elina Svitolina with a searing forehand winner, her 29th of the night. It was another near flawless performance from the Belarusian, another match she dominated from start to finish without any response, reinforcing her status as the leading hard court player of her generation.
Six matches in, Sabalenka’s fourth consecutive run to the Australian Open final has proved one of her most impressive. Sabalenka is yet to drop a set and she has shown how much her game has evolved by also dominating the net and peppering opponents with an array of delicate drop shots. The few times she has been pushed, such as in her third round match against Anastasia Potapova, the world No 1 has produced her best tennis in the decisive moments and she has been in control of the baseline throughout.
A completely different match-up awaits Sabalenka on Saturday as she faces Elena Rybakina, the fifth seed and one of her toughest rivals, for her fifth grand slam title. While their career achievements reflect the fact that Sabalenka is the more rounded player, a better mover and returner with greater variation and consistency, Rybakina is one of the only players on tour capable of tearing the racket from Sabalenka’s hands.
