The Australian Open is witnessing the emergence of a new dynasty. Aryna Sabalenka, the world no. 1 from Belarus, is just one win away from etching her name in the record books with a historic threepeat at Melbourne Park. After recovering from a slow start to defeat good friend Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2 in Thursday’s semifinal, Sabalenka moved to within touching distance of becoming the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1999 to lift the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup three years running.
I have goose bumps. I’m so proud of myself. I’m proud of my team that we were able to put ourselves in such a situation. If I’ll be able to put myself in the history [books], it’s going to mean a lot. It’s going to mean the world to me.
– Aryna Sabalenka
Overcoming a Shaky Start
Despite her status as the clear title favorite, Sabalenka found herself under early pressure against the 11th-seeded Spaniard Badosa. She faced a break point in her opening service game and soon trailed 2-0, 40-love. However, the hard-hitting Belarusian quickly righted the ship, especially once the roof was closed over Rod Laver Arena due to a passing shower. Sabalenka reeled off four games in a row and won five of the next six to take command of the opening set.
Sabalenka’s power game proved too much for Badosa to handle as the match progressed. With her thunderous groundstrokes finding their mark and her returns consistently landing deep in the court, Sabalenka broke early in set two and never looked back. An ace out wide sealed a convincing victory after 1 hour and 16 minutes.
She started to be very, very aggressive. Everything was working. Everything she was doing today, touching today, could become gold. If she plays like this, I mean, we can already give her the trophy.
– Paula Badosa on Sabalenka’s performance
Chasing Rarified Air
By reaching her third consecutive Australian Open final, Sabalenka has already joined elite company. The last woman to achieve that feat was Serena Williams, who contested three straight championship matches from 2015-17, winning two of them. If Sabalenka can go one step further and secure the title on Saturday, she’ll equal Hingis’ Open Era record of three straight triumphs at the year’s first major.
- Australian Open Three-Peats (Open Era)
- Margaret Court (1969-71)
- Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1974-76)
- Steffi Graf (1988-90)
- Monica Seles (1991-93)
- Martina Hingis (1997-99)
- Aryna Sabalenka (2023-25)?
Since capturing her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2023 Australian Open, Sabalenka has been nearly untouchable in Melbourne, dropping just two sets en route to her two titles. Another triumph this weekend would not only secure a coveted threepeat but further cement Sabalenka’s status as the woman to beat on the WTA Tour.
One Hurdle Remains
To achieve her slice of history, Sabalenka will need to overcome either Iga Swiatek, the current world no. 1 and reigning French and US Open champion, or Madison Keys, the resurgent American and 2017 US Open finalist. Swiatek would present an intriguing clash of the Tour’s top two players, while Keys, with her big serve and forehand, has the weapons to trouble Sabalenka if she catches fire.
Regardless of her opponent, Sabalenka will enter the final as a strong favorite given her scintillating form and the air of invincibility she’s displayed over the past fortnight. As she homes in on an increasingly inevitable threepeat, Sabalenka is not only bidding for a place in the record books, but laying the foundations for a new era of dominance at the Australian Open and beyond.
