BRISBANE, Australia — World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka defeated Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday to advance to the Brisbane Worldwide ultimate for the third consecutive yr.
Sabalenka received the semifinal at Pat Rafter Area on her fourth match level and superior to Sunday’s ultimate in opposition to the winner of the semifinal between No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula and Marta Kostyuk.
On Friday, in a rematch of final yr’s Australian Open ultimate, Sabalenka broke Madison Keys’ serve 5 instances in a row to win 6-3, 6-3. Final yr at Melbourne Park, Keys defeated Sabalenka to win her first Grand Slam singles title.
The Brisbane Worldwide is a preparation occasion for this yr’s Australian Open, which begins on January 18th.
Sabalenka prevented three match factors beneath intense stress from the Czech participant within the ultimate phases, however Muchova’s shot went extensive and sealed the victory for Sabalenka.
“I all the time attempt to keep within the current,” Sabalenka mentioned. “I have been working actually exhausting and each match in opposition to her is one other alternative to win and I am very blissful immediately was the day I used to be capable of get the win. She’s an excellent participant and I all the time take pleasure in enjoying in opposition to her.”
Sabalenka, who hit 32 winners and saved all 4 break factors, will look to hold that momentum into Sunday’s thirteenth WTA 500-level ultimate.
Within the males’s event in Brisbane, prime seed Daniil Medvedev will later face American Alex Michelsen within the semi-finals. The opposite semifinal will function two American athletes, Aleksandar Kovacevic and Brandon Nakashima.
