World number two Aryna Sabalenka beat Victoria Azarenka 6-2 6-4 at the Brisbane International on Saturday to book a tantalising final against Elena Rybakina in what will be a rematch of their 2023 Australian Open title clash.
Sabalenka made her Grand Slam breakthrough by lifting the trophy at Melbourne Park last year but lost to Rybakina in the Indian Wells final and Beijing quarter-finals before winning the latest chapter of their rivalry at the WTA Finals.
The Belarusian can improve her 5-2 win-loss record against Rybakina on Sunday and bag her first trophy this season ahead of her title defence at the Jan. 14-28 Australian Open.
Top seed Sabalenka broke for a 3-1 lead with a desperate return from deep that drew an error from her compatriot Azarenka at the net and overcame wobbles in her next two service games to claim the opening set.
She saved two break points to clinch the ninth game of the second set and completed the win when eighth-seeded Azarenka dropped serve in the following game.
World number four Rybakina earlier defeated Czech teenager Linda Noskova 6-3 6-2 to reach her 15th career singles final and fourth in Australia.
Top seed Holger Rune overcame Roman Safiullin 6-4 7-6(0) in the last four of the men's draw, setting up a final against second seed Grigor Dimitrov who beat Jordan Thompson 6-3 7-5 in the second semi-final.
"I think I did well to be honest. When he was hitting hard I was there with some good counter-punches," said the 20-year-old Rune, who reached his ninth tour-level final.
"I managed to close it out in two sets, which is good for the energy. I'm playing better tennis every day and physically I'm feeling great, so I'm happy."
GAUFF SURGES
Top seed Coco Gauff will continue her defence of the Auckland Classic title in Sunday's final after the U.S Open champion beat fellow American Emma Navarro 6-3 6-1 in the Australian Open warm-up tournament.
The world number three meets Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, who needed treatment for a back problem twice as she battled from a set down to beat China's Wang Xiyu 2-6 6-4 6-3.
"Definitely a good start to my 2024, Emma's an incredible player," Gauff said. "I wanted to be aggressive in my serve and return. We played a practice set before the tournament started and she was playing really well.
"I knew I had to be at my best if I wanted to win."
Gauff made a commanding start and held a 4-2 lead in the first set when rain, which has fallen regularly throughout the tournament, briefly stopped play.
The 19-year-old American continued her strong showing, extending her lead upon the players' return to the court and eventually winning the first set with few concerns.
Gauff tightened her grip when she broke her compatriot's serve in the opening game of the second set and consolidated her lead further after a Navarro mis-hit in the fifth game to give her an unassailable lead.
Thiem into Australian Open main draw
Dominic Thiem, US Open winner in 2020, has secured a place in the main draw of the Australian Open after the withdrawal of Reilly Opelka, the tournament organisers confirmed on Friday.
Thiem, who lost to Rafal Nadal 7-5, 6-1 in the first round of the Brisbane International on Tuesday, will now enter the first round of the Australian Open which begins on January 14 and avoids the qualifiers.
The 30-year-old Austrian broke the Grand Slam stranglehold of Roger Federer, Nadal and Novak Djokovic by winning the 2020 US Open but a wrist injury the following year sidelined him for months.
Thiem also reached the Australian Open final in 2020, losing to Djokovic. Now ranked 98th, Thiem won his first match at a Grand Slam since 2021 at the U.S. Open in August last year before losing to Alexander Bublik in the second round.
Hurkacz, Swiatek win as Poland march into United Cup final
Poland reached the final of the United Cup mixed team tournament with a 2-0 victory over France on Saturday as Hubert Hurkacz and Iga Swiatek battled past their singles opponents.
World No. 9 Hurkacz staved off a late comeback attempt by Adrian Mannarino and prevailed 6-3, 7-5, handing top seeds Poland a 1-0 lead in the $10 million tournament, which began last week with 18 countries in contention.
Swiatek endured a more challenging outing against Caroline Garcia, as the world No. 1 dropped the opening set before rediscovering her top level and winning 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.
An early double break in the decider put Swiatek ahead 4-0 and the 22-year-old never looked back from there as she claimed her fourth straight singles win of the season ahead of this month's Australian Open.
Hosts Australia and Germany face off later in Sydney's Ken Rosewall Arena for a spot in Sunday's final against Poland.
The Australian Open runs from January 14-28.
