Aryna Sabalenka shrugs off grunting drama with umpire to beat Elina Svitolina and reach fourth-successive Australian Open final

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka reached another Australian Open final as she beat Elina Svitolina 6-2 6-3 in the semi-finals. Two-time champion Sabalenka was a level above as she hit 29 winners and closed out victory in one hour and 16 minutes. Sabalenka, who lost in the 2025 final to Madison Keys, will face Elena Rybakina for the title on Saturday in Melbourne after she beat Jessica Pegula.

Aryna Sabalenka reached a fourth-straight Australian Open final after overpowering Elina Svitolina in the semi-finals.

World No. 1 Sabalenka has her sights on reclaiming the title for the third time in the last four years, after being beaten in the 2025 final by Madison Keys.

On the evidence so far, she will be very tough to beat on Saturday.

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She stormed past Svitolina with a flurry of 29 winners as she won 6-2 6-3 to reach her seventh successive hard-court Grand Slam final.

She will face Elena Rybakina in the final after she beat Jessica Pegula in the semis.

"An incredible achievement [to reach another final] but the job is not done yet," said Sabalenka, who beat Rybakina in the 2023 final.

"Super happy with the win, she is such a tough opponent. I have been watching her game - she played incredible throughout the tournament and I felt like I had to step in and put as much pressure as I could back on her.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

"I am glad the level was there today. I played great tennis and happy to get the win in straight sets."

Sabalenka was not happy at the start of the match as she was called for hindrance in the fourth game by umpire Louise Engzell.

Sabalenka was told by the umpire she "didn’t make the normal sound" during a mishit shot and despite a video review, the call stood.

"It’s a different grunt," explained TNT Sports commentator Naomi Cavaday.

"And most people will know it’s because she thought she had messed up the shot, but it somehow landed in.

"But it’s whether or not that is enough to be a hindrance, she didn’t say anything, there were no words, it was just a different style of grunt I suppose."

Sabalenka quickly shook off the incident, grunting loudly with every shot in the next rally and then giving the umpire a long look at the end of the point.

She broke Svitolina's serve to lead 3-1 and then closed out the set with another break as she racked up 18 winners.

Svitolina offered hope of a comeback at the start of the second set as she broke and then held to love.

But she couldn't stay at that level and Sabalenka came roaring back with five games in a row.

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The two-time champion had no problem closing out the win as she reached another final in Melbourne.

Sabalenka is just the third woman in the Open Era to reach four consecutive finals after Evonne Goolagong and Martina Hingis.

She will be bidding to win her fifth career Grand Slam title on Saturday.

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