Aryna Sabalenka Vs Elina Svitolina, Australian Open 2026 Highlights: Top Seed Sails Into 4th Straight Final With Ease

Good Morning and welcome to the live coverage of the Australian Open's 1st semi-final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina at the Rod Laver Arena. This is the start of our blog, so stay tuned.

The match will start from 2:00PM (IST) onwards and it can be live streamed on the Sony LIV app/website as well as the Sony Sports network.

The World No. 1 is eyeing her 3rd Australian Open title in four years -- having won the tournament back-to-back in 2023 and 2024.

In the 2025 final, the Belarussian was denied a three-peat by USA's Madison Keys but since then, Aryna has been a different beast. She has not dropped a single set in this edition and has only lost twice in her last 45 matches on hard court.

She is really the real deal and the one to beat this year.

Elina Svitolina is making her first Australian Open semi-final appearance at the age of 31. Ever since she returned to the Tennis circuit in 2022 after the birth of her daughter Skai, the Ukrainian has been impressive as she transitioned her defensive gameplay into more attacking.

At 31, she is also hoping to reach her first-ever Grand Slam finale and beat Aryna Sabalenka for the first time since 2020.

Aryna Sabalenka crushed Iva Jovic (6-3, 6-0), Victoria Mboko (6-1, 7-6), and Anastasia Potapova (7-6, 7-6), enroute to the semis.

Elina Svitolina, on the other hand, stormed through by upsetting Coco Gauff (6-1, 6-2), Mirra Andreeva (6-2, 6-4), and Linda Noskova (6-1, 6-0), remaining undefeated in 2026.

Aryna Sabalenka leads the head-to-head battle against Elina Svitolina by 5-1 from 6 meetings. In their most recent match-up in 2025, the Belarussian won in straight sets 6-3 and 7-5.

In the hard court surface, Sabalenka leads 2-0.

Here they come. Both Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina have entered the Rod Laver Arena amid much fanfare, and in front of a packed crowd in Melbourne. The warm-ups have begun and the match will begin shortly.

Svitolina won the first points of this semi-final with a strong back hand that Sabalenka could not reach. The Belarussian follows up with a strong forehand later on in the first game to make it 40-40. Raw power on display from Aryna. Wooof.

Sabalenka wins the first set in style. She conceded the first three points but since then, she has been exceptional.

The referee has claimed that Aryna Sabalenka has made an hindrance right after hitting the shot as the Belarussian utters "ah-ha" but the the decision has been reversed.

Sabalenka has total disagreement with the referee.

Sabalenka is dominating the proceedings with her strong returns that are helping her bag winners after winners as she goes 3-1 ahead and tensions are increasing for Svitolina. The Belarussian is channeling her

There is no stopping Aryna Sabalenka at the moment as Svitolina is not getting any chance whatsoever to stage a comeback. Sabalenka has been absolutely flawless and she needs another mistake from the Ukrainian to win the 1st set.

Was there any doubt about it? Aryna Sabalenka dismantles Elina Svitolina 6-2 to win the 1st set in dominant fashion. It took her 41 minutes to close this one. Her Ukrainian opponent started really well but she was not able to retain that gameplay.

On to the 2nd set now.

The Belarusian is unstoppable at the moment! Despite Svitolina's best efforts, Sabalenka emerges in front game after game. She staves off a crucial break point in the seventh game to take a 5-2 lead in the second seed. The top seed is one game away from a fourth consecutive final at Melbourne Park.

No way in for Svitolina, as the two-time champion closes out the match on her serve in the ninth game. Sabalenka, just too good tonight for the Ukrainian, wins 6-2, 6-3 to storm into her fourth consecutive Australian Open final. There is no handshake after the match, and Svitolina walks straight off.

While this live blog might be coming to an end, our Australian Open 2026 coverage won't. Catch the 2nd semi-final action live between USA's Jessica Pegula and Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina right here.