SYDNEY, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka triumphed in straight sets over Madison Keys in a rematch of the 2025 Australian Open final on Friday to reach the semifinals at the Brisbane International.
Sabalenka notched a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Keys, the world No. 7 and reigning Australian Open champion, in one hour and 29 minutes.
It improves Sabalenka's record in Australia since the start of 2023 to 36 wins and two losses in a run that has included two titles at the Australian Open and one at the Brisbane International.
"This place is super special. I always play great here and I'm excited to be back in the semis," she said on court after the match.
Sabalenka will play world No. 20 Karolina Muchova, who beat the fifth-ranked Elena Rybakina earlier in the day, in Saturday's semifinal.
Muchova's 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 victory in two hours four minutes ended Rybakina's 13-match winning streak.
Tied at 4-4 in the third set, Muchova hit a return backhand winner to break Rybakina's serve at a critical point in the match.
In the following game, the 29-year-old Czech hit her third ace to set up a match point, which she converted with a forehand winner.
"It's the first tournament, and so far it couldn't have been better than this," Muchova said of her start to the 2026 season. ■
