(5) Aryna Sabalenka def Donna Vekic 6-3, 6-2.
Aryna Sabalenka has progressed into her fourth major singles semi-final and first at the Australian Open, after a straight sets victory over Donna Vekic, writes Connor Joyce.
The fifth seed is still yet to drop a set in 2023 – after four wins in Adelaide and now five at Melbourne Park – and is in lead contention to take out the women’s title.
“It is really special to be in the semi-finals,” Sabalenka told Jelana Dokic post-match.
“It was a tough match. I’m super happy with the win.”
Sabalenka raced to a 3-1 lead in the opening stanza before a fightback from Vekic saw the first set back on serve.
However, a mix of loose service games from the world number 64 – with nine double faults in her first four service games – and some clean ball-striking from Sabalenka helped her to take the opener 6-3.
The 2021 Australian Open doubles champion continued her dominance in the second set – hitting eighteen winners to the Croatian’s ten – on her way to a straight sets victory.
Sabalenka had historically struggled to overcome Vekic, holding a 1-5 head-to-head in their previous meetings but was not aware of the record prior to their quarterfinal.
“It’s really good that I didn’t know (about the 1-5 win/loss),” she said.
“I remember the last two matches that she won, but it’s good that I didn’t think about being 1-5 down.”
“She’s a great player. It’s always tough to play against her,” Sabalenka said.
“I kind of expect this game from her, (so) I was able to stay in (it) no matter what. That was the key.”
It was the 24-year-old’s fourth win this fortnight on Rod Laver Arena, and she is starting to feel at home on Melbourne’s premier court.
“I would say, yes. I definitely love this place,” Sabalenka replied when asked if it was her new favourite court.
“It was so great to play here today. The atmosphere was unbelievable. Thank you, guys, so much.”
Sabalenka will have just over twenty-four hours to prepare for her semi-final tomorrow night and will be opting for her personal choice of recovery ahead of the encounter.
“To be honest, I don’t like ice baths, but I’ll definitely do some treatment,” Sabalenka said.
She will face Poland’s Magda Linette, who overcame Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 7-5 earlier today, and both will be looking to reach their maiden Grand Slam final.
It will be the pair’s second career meeting, with Sabalenka having won their first encounter 6-1, 6-3 at the Tianjin Open in 2018.
(30) Karolina Pliskova def by Magda Linette 3-6, 5-7.
As many expected, there’s a Polish player through to the final four of the Australian Open, but it isn’t world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, writes Alex Johnstone.
Unseeded Magda Linette’s fairytale run at Melbourne Park will continue after she made her way past world former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 7-5 on Rod Laver Arena. Linette has now beaten Pliskova twice in a row, with her previous win in the Billie Jean King Cup breaking a run of five straight losses to the dual Grand Slam finalist.
Following the victory, Linette seemed rather calm in the press room.
"I'm actually tired (smiling),” Linette said.
“Yeah, it's good. Again, I'm quite calm, surprisingly. That helped me last time, and I think that's also, like, a good way for the next one, especially that we are playing tomorrow.”
Linette took it right up to the big-hitting Pliskova, matching her on the stat line with three aces and 18 winners while crucially, only making 16 unforced errors compared to the 36 off of the Czech’s Babolat.
“When it was really tough on my serve, she was getting very aggressive,” Linette said.
“My first serve wasn't always there. I think I did really well not to panic and still stay in the rally and go for the shots when I had the chance. That was, I think, something I did the best.”
Bad errors were the theme for Pliskova with her seven double faults proving particularly costly. The two she hit in her final service game at 5-6 in the last set were the final nails in the coffin.
Linette is riding a wave of momentum that has seen her defeat (16) Anett Kontaveit, (19) Ekaterina Alexandrova and (4) Caroline Garcia before knocking off 30th seed Pliskova. In the process, she’s only dropped one set - to Kontaveit - and has been in the kind of form that will dare her to dream of lifting the title.
In saying that, it will be one of the more remarkable victories if she can go all the way, particularly when you consider that her only title on the WTA Tour came at a 250 event in Thailand back in 2020.
Yet, Linette feels as though she has been building towards something special, even if her results weren’t showing it.
“We knew that we are on a really good path. We saw that I was improving and playing so much better. But obviously when you still go in 125s and sometimes lose still there, it's still difficult,” Linette added.
“We knew we were doing really good. So I think this is huge reward for not only me but also for them, that they see that they are doing really amazing job and, you know, it was really worth it going through those tough moments. It kind of boosts all of us, because they also need the reward.”
Linette will face off with fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka for a spot in the finale, a player she is yet to defeat.
“My last encounter wasn't the best at the Olympics, so I think I have really big room there, because it obviously can't be any worse than the last one,” Linette said.
“I will just try what I'm doing this whole week.”
Linette will be confident, proving thus far that her H2H records are of little significance when gracing the bright blue hue of Melbourne Park.