World number one Aryna Sabalenka underlined her dominance at Melbourne Park by advancing to her fourth consecutive Australian Open final, defeating Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-3 on January 29, 2026. The semi-final, however, was shaped as much by controversy as by Sabalenka’s commanding tennis.
Early in the opening set, an unusual interruption drew attention away from the rallies. With Sabalenka pushing for a break, chair umpire Louise Azemar Engzell called a hindrance against her, ruling that an atypical sound made during a point disrupted her opponent. The decision, made under Rule 26 of the ITF Rules of Tennis, awarded the point to Svitolina despite Sabalenka’s immediate objections.
Although visibly irritated by the call, Sabalenka quickly regained focus. She went on to break serve in the same game and controlled the remainder of the set, closing it out 6-2 with her trademark power from the baseline.
The second set briefly tilted in Svitolina’s favour as the Ukrainian secured an early break and moved ahead 2-0. Sabalenka responded emphatically, reeling off five consecutive games with aggressive returns and deep groundstrokes to seize control once more. She sealed the match with confident serving, ending Svitolina’s resistance after just over an hour.
The victory sends Sabalenka into yet another Australian Open final, an achievement rarely seen in the modern women’s game. She previously lifted the trophy in 2023 and 2024, before falling short in last year’s final. Since that defeat, she has not lost a single set at the tournament, highlighting her exceptional consistency on hard courts.
Beyond the tennis, Sabalenka’s presence continues to carry political significance. Competing as a neutral athlete due to international sanctions linked to the Russia–Ukraine war, she appears without Belarusian national symbols. Flags, anthems and country designations remain absent, reflecting policies enforced by global tennis authorities since 2022.
Despite these restrictions, Sabalenka has repeatedly stated her pride in her background while accepting the current regulations. The Melbourne crowd has responded in kind, backing her performance rather than focusing on nationality, as she moves one step closer to another Grand Slam title.
Dr. James Chen is a correspondent for The Washington Award.