James Wilson 
Aryna Sabalenka faced one of her most challenging matches at the Australian Open since her 2023 final against Elena Rybakina, ultimately defeating world No. 31 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova with a score of 6-2, 2-6, 6-3. The defending champion started strong, displaying dominance early on and seemingly on track for a straightforward victory at Melbourne Park. However, her performance dipped, leading to her first set loss at the tournament since 2023.
In a tense third set, Sabalenka found herself down by a break twice, as Pavlyuchenkova threatened to deliver a significant upset. Despite the pressure, the three-time Grand Slam champion maintained her composure and fought back, securing a spot in the semifinals where she will face her close friend Paula Badosa. Throughout the match, both players displayed aggressive play, with Sabalenka finishing with 29 winners and 27 unforced errors, while Pavlyuchenkova matched her in winners but had 23 unforced errors.
The match began with Sabalenka breaking Pavlyuchenkova’s serve twice to take the first set comfortably. However, the second set saw a surprising turn, as Sabalenka lost her serve three times, allowing the Russian to level the match. As the third set progressed, Pavlyuchenkova initially broke Sabalenka twice but failed to capitalize on those advantages. Ultimately, Sabalenka broke back for a crucial 5-3 lead before serving out the match. With this victory, her head-to-head record against Pavlyuchenkova now stands at 2-2, and she will look to extend her Australian Open winning streak to 19 matches as she prepares for her eighth career meeting with Badosa, whom she leads 5-2 in their encounters.
Related topics