Australian Open: Aryna Sabalenka avoids loss in her hardest AO match since 2023

Aryna Sabalenka survived in all probability her hardest Australian Open match because the 2023 last versus Elena Rybakina because the Belarusian overcame world No. 31 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2 2-6 6-3.

Early within the match, the defending champion was dominating and all the things was pointing towards the world No. 1 clinching one other dominant win at Melbourne Park.

However then, her degree dropped and she or he misplaced a set in Melbourne for the primary time since 2023. 

Within the third set, Sabalenka was twice down by a break and Pavlyuchenkova completely threatened to tug off a significant shock.

Nevertheless, the three-time Grand Slam champion managed to remain calm and finally seal a semifinal ticket in opposition to her finest pal Paula Badosa.

All through the match, each the Belarusian and the Russian have been going for it. 

Ultimately, the defending champ completed with 29 winners and 27 unforced errors whereas Pavlyuchenkova had the identical variety of winners and unforced errors – 23. 

For the world No. 1, this was her nineteenth consecutive Australian Open win.

Aryna Sabalenka© Australian Open/Instagram – Honest Use

How Sabalenka beat Pavlyuchenkova?

With breaks within the fourth and eighth video games, the defending champion routinely sealed the primary set.

However after dominating the opener, the 26-year-old stunningly misplaced her serve thrice within the second set.

Nevertheless, it ought to be famous that the Russian additionally raised her degree and got here up with some massive pictures within the second set.

Pavlyuchenkova then broke Sabalenka twice early within the third set but additionally twice blew her breaks. 

And the world No. 31 paid the worth for that because the world No. 1 claimed her third break of the third set within the eighth sport for a 5-3 lead earlier than serving out for the match within the following sport.

Now, the head-to-head between the 2 stands at 2-2. 

Subsequent up for the two-time Australian Open winner will probably be her eight profession assembly in opposition to Badosa – she leads their head-to-head 5-2.