BRISBANE, Australia — The tables turned on this rematch between Australian Open finalists, with Aryna Sabalenka upending the outcome with a straight-sets victory over Madison Keys.
On the Brisbane Worldwide, a preparation event for the Australian Open beginning January 18, top-ranked Sabalenka gained 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and a half on Friday, breaking Keys in 5 consecutive service video games and advancing to the semifinals.
“To be sincere, I do not keep in mind final yr’s Australian Open,” Sabalenka stated. “I do know I misplaced to her in Australia. After all it is a huge motivation to go and win. However I all the time take a look at the (subsequent) match like a brand new match with a brand new participant. That is my method.”
The defending Brisbane champion will subsequent face eleventh seed Karolina Muchova, who defeated Elena Rybakina 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, ending the third seed’s profitable streak at 13. Fourth seed Jessica Pegula defeated No. 10 Liudmila Samsonova 6-3, 7-6 (3) within the quarterfinals and can subsequent face No. 16 Marta Kostyuk, who defeated No. 6 seed Mila Andreeva 7-6 (7), 6-3.
Muchova gained her third profession assembly with Rybakina, taking her lead in opposition to the WTA Finals champion to 2-1. She additionally has a file of three wins and 1 loss in opposition to world No. 1 Sabalenka.
“It would not matter if I am main in a head-to-head or if I am dropping, I do not care,” Sabalenka stated, including that she is targeted on controlling the sorts of feelings that generally drove her loopy when she was youthful. “I used to get pissed off and generally lose matches, however now I simply attempt to transfer on and say, ‘OK, no matter.’” I really feel like that is working effectively for me. ”
Keys heads to Adelaide trying to retain his title and hope to repeat the run from 2025, when he gained his first Grand Slam title in Melbourne two weeks later.
“Hopefully I could make a revenue and simply maintain a whole lot of momentum,” she stated. “I hope there are lots of extra firsts.”
On a heat Friday afternoon at Pat Rafter Enviornment, Sabalenka obtained her first break of serve within the seventh sport and gained six of the following seven video games. A serve with a damaged key began the second set with the one interruption in that sequence.
The American was below immense strain on his second serve, ending the match with eight double faults and profitable simply 33% of his factors on second serves.
Keys, 30, saved two match factors within the eighth sport of the second set however did little to sluggish Sabalenka, who served out at love.
Sabalenka has gained two consecutive matches in opposition to Keys since dropping at Melbourne Park about 12 months in the past, the opposite being 6-0, 6-1 at Indian Wells. She additionally reached the French Open ultimate, gained the US Open, and completed her aggressive season with a runner-up end on the WTA Finals.
In the beginning of the Brisbane event, she described the season schedule as “insane” and stated she risked paying a tremendous if she missed the event to keep away from damage or burnout. Nonetheless, she needs as a lot competitors as doable earlier than the primary main of the season.
“I’m simply making an attempt to play some video games, get some wins and get my rhythm again once more,” she stated.
