Aryna Sabalenka Advances to Australian Open Semifinals After Hard-Fought Win

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka overcame gusty conditions and a spirited challenge from Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to secure her spot in the Australian Open semifinals with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 victory on Tuesday. The win keeps her quest for a third consecutive title at Melbourne Park alive and extends her winning streak at the tournament to 19 matches.

The world number one faced a tough test on Rod Laver Arena as Pavlyuchenkova, seeded 27th, delivered a strong performance. Battling the elements and her opponent’s aggressive play, Sabalenka admitted she had to dig deep. “Honestly, I was just praying today,” she said after the match. “The conditions were tough, and she played amazing tennis. I’m super happy I was able to somehow magically win this match.”

Sabalenka started strongly, using her expanded repertoire of shots to keep Pavlyuchenkova on the backfoot. A drop shot from deep earned her an early break point, which she converted with a trademark backhand winner. Pavlyuchenkova, known for her resilience, tried to mount a comeback but struggled to counter Sabalenka’s precision and power, falling 4-1 behind.

The Belarusian, who sports a tiger tattoo as a symbol of perseverance and aggression, shared its significance. “I was born in the year of the tiger, and I dreamt for six months about getting this tattoo,” Sabalenka said. “It’s a reminder to never give up, stay aggressive, and push yourself no matter what.”

Pavlyuchenkova leveled the match in the second set, breaking Sabalenka twice to take a commanding 4-1 lead. Despite pulling back one break with a sliced winner, Sabalenka couldn’t regain control and allowed her opponent to force a decider.

The third set saw a series of breaks early on before Sabalenka steadied her nerves. A critical hold at 3-2 and a break at 5-3 set the stage for her victory. “Sometimes, it’s good to have these tough battles,” Sabalenka reflected. “It makes you tougher for the later stages of the tournament.”

Sabalenka now faces Paula Badosa, her close friend, in the semifinals. “I wish I had won this match in straight sets, but I’m glad I’m in the semis,” she said. “I cannot wait to play against Paula.”

With her win, Sabalenka remains on track to become the first woman to achieve a “three-peat” at the Australian Open since Martina Hingis in 1997-99, further solidifying her status as the world’s top player.