Australian Open: Sabalenka equals Serena’s feat reaching back-to-back final

Belarus’ tennis star Aryna Sabalenka achieved yet another milestone after her recent triumph in the Australian Open.

The 25-year-old booked her place in the final of the first Grand Slam of the year after defeating America’s Coco Gauff in the repeat of the 2023 US Open final in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 6-2.

While doing so, Sabalenka became the first women’s singles player since the former world number one America’s Serena Williams to book her place in consecutive finals of the Australian Open.

Williams achieved that feat between the years 2015 and 2017 when she played in three finals of the Australian Open and ended up winning two of them.

Sabalenka won the title which remains her only Grand Slam in Melbourne last year after defeating the current world number three Elena Rybakina with a score of 4–6, 6–3, 6–4. The recent result is another testament of the dominance of the Minsk-born in the mega-events as she has now played in six consecutive semifinals of the Grand Slams.

Sabalenka will be facing China’s young tennis star Qinwen Zheng in the final of the mega-event on Saturday. The 21-year-old booked a place in the final of the Grand Slam for the first time after defeating Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-4.