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Aryna Sabalenka overcame a tough challenge from Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to secure her place in the Australian Open semi-finals, keeping her quest for a third consecutive Melbourne title alive. The world number one is striving to become the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1997 to achieve a three-peat at the hard-court Grand Slam.
Sabalenka made a strong start, dominating the first set with ease. However, her title hopes were briefly in jeopardy when Pavlyuchenkova fought back, claiming the second set and breaking early in the decider. The Belarusian, known for her resilience, regained her composure to seal a 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 victory.
Reflecting on the match, Sabalenka acknowledged the importance of challenging encounters in preparing for later rounds. "Tough battles like this make you stronger for the next stages," she said. "I wish I had won in straight sets, but sometimes you just have to adapt."
This match marked the first time Sabalenka has dropped a set at the Australian Open since the 2023 final, where she rallied to defeat Elena Rybakina and claim her maiden Grand Slam singles title. Now into her 10th career Grand Slam semi-final, Sabalenka is set to face Paula Badosa, who stunned third seed Coco Gauff earlier in the day. Sabalenka expressed excitement about the upcoming clash, calling Badosa a close friend.
At the start of the third set, Sabalenka's semi-final hopes looked uncertain. Her serve faltered, allowing Pavlyuchenkova to break five consecutive times and gain the upper hand. Despite this, the Russian failed to capitalize on her momentum, and Sabalenka immediately broke back. The top seed then steadied her game, holding serve for a 3-2 lead, securing a critical break for 5-3, and closing out her 19th consecutive victory at Melbourne Park.
Sabalenka, who has reached the semi-finals in eight of her last nine Grand Slam appearances, shared a lighthearted moment after the match, joking that her team would be getting tiger tattoos if she triumphed in Melbourne. She explained that her own tiger tattoo is a personal symbol of perseverance and determination. "It's a reminder to never give up, stay aggressive, and push myself no matter what's happening in life," she said.
As the 26-year-old chases another historic title, she remains confident, hopeful, and focused on celebrating success with her team—possibly with some new ink to commemorate the occasion.
