Rybakina Triumphs Over Azarenka To Reach Australian Open Final

Elena Rybakina has set up a final showdown in Melbourne as she beat two-time winner Victoria Azarenka in the Australian Open semi-finals.

The 23-year-old Wimbledon champion won 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 to bring an end to Azarenka's title-winning hopes of winning 10 years after her last triumph.

Rybakina beat Azarenka in one hour 41 minutes to storm into her first Australian Open final having defeated reigning French and US Open champion Iga Swiatek in the fourth round and 2017 Roland Garros winner Jelena Ostapenko in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park.

"I'm super happy to be in the final. Today it was a bit tougher for me because it was different conditions," said Rybakina, who represents Kazakhstan.

"I couldn't play really aggressive tennis. The ball was not going so much, but I'm happy that in the end, I managed to win.

"I'll try my best in the final of course."

Rybakina is into Australian Open final! ?

Kazakhstan's player seals a 2nd Grand Slam final after defeating Victoria Azarenka 7-6 6-3!

She faces Linette or Sabalenka for the title on saturday pic.twitter.com/82beiym9RL

— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) January 26, 2023

The Kazakh 22nd seed will play either Belarusian fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka or unseeded Pole Magda Linette in the final.

Rybakina will be hoping to win the Grand Slam in her second major final on Saturday.