Aryna Sabalenka’s march toward Australian Open history almost came undone as the World No. 1 battled past a determined Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in a pulsating quarterfinal clash. Twice coming from a break down in the final set, Sabalenka triumphed 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 in a 1-hour, 53-minute showdown that tested her resolve and showcased Pavlyuchenkova’s grit.
The win cements Sabalenka’s place as one of the sport’s elite, making her the first player since Maria Sharapova to reach 10 Grand Slam semifinals. It’s a milestone steeped in history—Sharapova achieved the feat en route to her third of five major titles at the 2008 Australian Open. Sabalenka now stands alone among her peers born after Sharapova, edging past Victoria Azarenka and Simona Halep in semifinal appearances.
Sabalenka dominated the opening set, delivering blistering serves and breaking Pavlyuchenkova twice in just 31 minutes. The Belarusian seemed untouchable, conceding only three points on her first serve. But the second set turned the tide.
Pavlyuchenkova, a veteran with a track record of upsetting top players, dug deep, firing 10 winners to Sabalenka’s four. A stunning inside-out drop volley sealed the set for the Russian, leveling the match and electrifying the Melbourne crowd.
The final set was a tense affair, opening with four consecutive breaks of serve as the wind wreaked havoc on both players’ deliveries. But Sabalenka, known for her mental toughness, seized her chance in the eighth game, punishing Pavlyuchenkova’s errors to edge ahead 5-3.
A thunderous service winner secured her victory and a date with first-time major semifinalist Paula Badosa. Sabalenka holds a 5-2 lead in their head-to-head, including five consecutive wins.
