Aryna Sabalenka into Australian Open semi-finals for the first time after beating error-prone Donna Vekic
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Updated 25/01/2023 at 06:05 GMT
Aryna Sabalenka is into her fourth Grand Slam semi-final after a straight sets win over Donna Vekic, who made 13 double faults which proved impossible to come back from. Sabalenka did not play her best tennis either, but she won the majority of the pressure points which helped her into the last four. She will play Magda Linette in the semi-finals as she bids to win the first major of her career.
Highlights: Sabalenka marches into semi-finals after beating Vekic
Aryna Sabalenka is into the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the first time after a 6-3 6-2 win over world No. 68 Donna Vekic in one hour and 51 minutes.
Sabalenka, who had never gone beyond the fourth round of the Grand Slam before this year, is yet to drop a set in Melbourne and has now won all nine matches she has played this year.
The Belarusian will play world No. 45 Magda Linette next after the Pole beat former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova 6-3 7-5 earlier in the day to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final.
"I don't know why but here it feels very special to be in the semi-finals," Sabalenka said. "It was a tough match. I'm super happy with the win and it was so great to play here today. The atmosphere was unbelievable.
"I'm glad that I didn't think about being 1-5 down [in the head-to-head record against Vekic], but now it's 2-5 and it's three more to go.
"She's a great player and it's always tough to play against her. I think I was calm and expected this kind of game from her so I was able to stay in the game no matter what. I think that was the key."
Vekic survived three double faults to hold her opening service before Sabalenka had to save three break points to hold serve and take a 2-1 lead after 22 minutes of gruelling action.
In the next game, an audacious sliced backhand drop shot sealed Sabalenka a break to make it 3-1 with Vekic producing another two double faults. Vekic then broke back immediately with neither player looking confident on their serve.
It took 40 minutes to get to 3-3 in the opening set, but Sabalenka broke the Vekic serve for the second time, after a game where Vekic made her eighth and ninth double faults of the match, and the No. 5 seed would serve for the set.
Even then it was not straightforward for Sabalenka who had to save a break point before converting her second set point with a smash at the net into Vekic's body.
Sabalenka broke in the opening game of the second set with a vicious forehand winner putting her in control of the match. Vekic’s double fault count then reached 12 and Sabalenka sealed the double break in the third game.
Vekic pulled one of the breaks back to make it 3-1, but Sabalenka instantly roared back to re-establish a double break lead with a crushing forehand winner doing the damage.
Sabalenka navigated a tricky final service game but held her nerve to save four break points before finally booking her place in the semi-finals.
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Watch the moment Sabalenka sealed her place in the Australian Open semis
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