Aryna Sabalenka triumphed over Madison Keys in a rematch of last year’s Australian Open final, demonstrating her readiness for the upcoming Grand Slam. The world number one advanced to the semi-finals of the Brisbane International, continuing her impressive start to the year with her third straight sets victory, having dropped only 13 games across six sets.
Sabalenka, a four-time major champion, expressed her motivation stemming from last year’s loss to Keys. “I know that I lost in Australia against her, and that’s the big motivation of course to go out and to get the win,” she stated. Despite the past rivalry, she emphasized a fresh approach for each match, focusing on delivering her best performance. The Belarusian secured a convincing 6-3 6-3 win against Keys and will now face Karolina Muchova, who pulled off a surprise by defeating world number five Elena Rybakina 6-2 2-6 6-4, thus ending Rybakina’s impressive 13-match winning streak.
In the men’s competition, former world number one Daniil Medvedev showcased his resilience by rallying to defeat Polish player Kamil Majchrzak after losing the first set. Medvedev eventually won the match 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-2 and is set to face young American prospect Alex Michelsen in the semi-finals.
With Sabalenka aiming for her third Australian Open title later this month and Medvedev demonstrating formidable skill on the court, fans can look forward to an exciting season ahead.