Sabalenka defeats Svitolina to reach Australian Open final

Al JazeeraCenterEN 3 min read 100% complete by News AgenciesJanuary 29, 2026 at 12:06 PM

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Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elina Svitolina at the Australian Open on Thursday, January 29, 2026, securing her place in the final. The Belarusian player won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, advancing to her fourth consecutive Australian Open final. The match was notable due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with Svitolina, a Ukrainian player, not shaking hands with Sabalenka, who is from Belarus, an ally of Russia. Sabalenka will now compete for her third Australian Open title in four years against the winner of the match between Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina. Sabalenka's victory marks her as the third woman in the professional era to reach four consecutive Australian Open finals.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Elena Rybakina 30% Jessica Pegula 30% Melbourne ×240% Rod Laver Arena ×240% Russia ×260% Ukraine ×470% Belarus ×370% Elina Svitolina ×880% Aryna Sabalenka ×890% Australian Open ×795%

Keywords

aryna sabalenka 100% australian open 100% elina svitolina 80% tennis 70% grand slam 60% semifinal 60% belarus 50% political context 50% ukraine 50% no handshake 40%