Aryna Sabalenka outclasses Magda Linette to reach maiden grand-slam final

12:48 PM

Friday is all about the men's semi-finals

12:39 PM

Sabalenka on her showdown with Rybakina

12:36 PM

Sabalenka reacts

12:32 PM

The winning moment for Sabalenka

12:30 PM

The Australian Open women's final

On Saturday we will see Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina.

Two huge ball strikers. Expect plenty of aces, winner and errors!

12:27 PM

Twitter reacts

12:24 PM

Linette* 6-7 (1), 2-6 Sabalenka (*denotes next server)

Bit of luck for Sabalenka as her backhand clips the net and the ball drops just short enough to prevent Linette getting the ball back in play, 15-0.

Sabalenka double fault, 15-15. Her second of the match. She then responds with a 131km/h forehand winner, 30-15.

Very tense forehand into the net by Sabalenka, 30-30. Sabalenka ace, 40-30.

Sabalenka forehand winner. GAME SET MATCH SABALENKA.

12:20 PM

Linette 6-7 (1), 2-5 Sabalenka* (*denotes next server)

Linette backhand into the tramline, 0-15. Another unforced backhand error by Linette, 0-30.

Sabalenka goes after Linette's second serve but misses the line with her backhand, 15-30.

Incredible power from Sabalenka, equally great defence by Linette but Sabalenka finishes the point with a backhand winner. Two match points.

Sabalenka nets a backhand on the first. She then sends a forehand long on the second, deuce.

Linette backhand into the net, third match point. Well played by Linette. She makes Sabalenka play an extra ball and the Belarusian breaks down, deuce.

Sabalenka forehand return into the net, ad Linette. Linette turns defence into offence again and Sabalenka sends a forehand long.

Sabalenka to serve for the match next.

12:12 PM

Linette* 6-7 (1), 1-5 Sabalenka (*denotes next server)

Sabalenka misses by quite a way with a forehand, 15-30. Linette backhand winner down the line, two break points.

Sabalenka gets just enough angle and power on her forehand, pushing Linette wide and into an error.

Linette has a look at a forehand up the line but nets, deuce. She'll be furious with that miss.

Linette gets her forehand up the line right on this occasion and Sabalenka nets a defensive backhand. Ace No 5 from Sabalenka to save another break point.

Sabalenka places a forehand behind Linette and it spins away for a winner. Big first serve by Sabalenka and Linette can't get the ball back in play.

12:06 PM

Linette 6-7 (1), 1-4 Sabalenka* (*denotes next server)

Sabalenka continues to force errors from Linette and moves to 0-40 when Linette nets a backhand.

Linette looks a forlorn figure but manages to save the first break point. But not the second as Sabalenka shows some finesse to go with the raw power. She attacks the net and slices a backhand into the corner which wrong-foots Linette.

Sabalenka breaks.

12:02 PM

Latest update from Simon Briggs in Melbourne

12:02 PM

Linette* 6-7 (1), 1-3 Sabalenka (*denotes next server)

Linette is having to cover so much ground to stay in rallies at the moment and is looking flustered.

Sabalenka moves to 40-15 easily and wins her third game in a row when Linette sends a backhand wide.

11:58 AM

Linette 6-7 (1), 1-2 Sabalenka* (*denotes next server)

A series of deep groundstrokes from Sabalenka and Linette pushes a backhand long, 30-30.

Sabalenka exploits a short second serve by Linette, taking charge of the rally and finishing with a forehand winner, 30-40.

Another deep and powerful return by Sabalenka and Linette sends a backhand long.

Sabalenka breaks.

11:55 AM

Linette* 6-7 (1), 1-1 Sabalenka (*denotes next server)

Ace No 4 from Sabalenka, 30-15. But she then nets a backhand, 30-30. Another big "come on" from Sabalenka after a forehand error and holding serve.

11:51 AM

Second set: Linette 6-7 (1), 1-0 Sabalenka* (*denotes next server)

Poor drop shot by Linette, Sabalenka runs up to it easily and finishes with a forehand winner, 0-15. Linette forehand goes long, 0-30.

Careless errors from Sabalenka lets Linette back into the game, 30-all. And Linette survives that scare to hold when Sabalenka makes a forehand error.

11:45 AM

Twitter reacts

11:44 AM

Latest update from Simon Briggs in Melbourne

11:43 AM

Linette 6-7 (1) Sabalenka - TIEBREAK

Sabalenka lob drifts long, 1-6. Defensive forehand by Linette into the net, 1-7.

Fantastic tiebreak from Sabalenka.

11:41 AM

Linette 6-6 Sabalenka - TIEBREAK

Sabalenka forehand winner down the line, 0-1. Big Sabalenka backhand down the line and Linette can't get the ball back into play, 0-2. A bruising backhand into the corner from Sabalenka, 0-3. Sabalenka's first serve unreturned by Linette, 0-4.

Sabalenka ace, 0-5. Sabalenka forehand winner, 0-6.

The Belarusian has gone up a gear in this breaker.

11:36 AM

Linette 6-6 Sabalenka* (*denotes next server)

First double fault of the match by Linette comes at a very bad time, 0-30. Sabalenka goes for a forehand down the line but nets.

Linette forehand winner, 30-30. Big point coming up.

Immaculate depth on the forehand by Linette and Sabalenka can't get the ball back into play.

Sabalenka forehand winner, deuce. Linette backhand up the line, clips the net but finds the sideline. She holds and it is tiebreak time.

11:33 AM

Latest update from Simon Briggs in Melbourne

11:31 AM

Linette* 5-6 Sabalenka (*denotes next server)

Very played Sabalenka. She keeps her head amid good defence from Linette and holds to 15 with ace, her second of the match.

She has guaranteed herself a tiebreak.

11:28 AM

Linette 5-5 Sabalenka* (*denotes next server)

Linette absorbs the power from Sabalenka and sends a forehand down the line for a winner, 15-0.  More unforced errors from the racket of Sabalenka and Linette holds to 15.

Really impressive tennis by Linette. She is more than holding her own.

11:22 AM

Linette* 4-5 Sabalenka (*denotes next server)

Another crushing backhand winner by Sabalenka, 40-0. And she holds with an ace. Scoreboard pressure on Linette now.

11:20 AM

Linette 4-4 Sabalenka* (*denotes next server)

Shot of the match from Linette as she leaps into the air and powers a forehand winner down the line. And the Pole holds when Sabalenka makes an unforced error on the forehand side.

11:16 AM

Linette* 3-4 Sabalenka (*denotes next server)

Big first serve followed by a backhand down the line from Sabalenka, 30-0. Great time on the backhand from Linette and she draws the error from Sabalenka.

Sabalenka steps in and strikes a forehand into the open court, 40-15. Sabalenka wears down Linette again in another bruising rally and draws the error to hold.

11:13 AM

Linette 3-3 Sabalenka* (*denotes next server)

Sabalenka backhand into the net, 30-15. Sabalenka is standing well inside the baseline to return serve but Linette keeps her composure and holds to 15.

11:11 AM

Latest update from Simon Briggs in Melbourne

11:09 AM

Linette* 2-3 Sabalenka (*denotes next server)

Sabalenka is 'see ball, hit ball'. Rarely a backward step. Huge winners off her backhand and forehand makes the game 30-all after Linette went ahead in the game.

Big first serve by Sabalenka and she holds. Three games in a row now for the fifth seed.

11:06 AM

Linette 2-2 Sabalenka* (*denotes next server)

Linette cruises to 40-0 but is given a taste of Sabalenka's power when the Belarusian hits a forehand winner, 40-15.

Errors of the forehand and then backhand from Linette makes it deuce. Woof! Frightening power from Sabalenka as she shows patience and drills a cross court backhand winner. Break point.

Linette backhand wide. Sabalenka breaks. Linette will be very frustrated to drop serve from 40-0 up.

11:00 AM

Linette* 2-1 Sabalenka (*denotes next server)

Confident ball striking from Sabalenka as she hits forehand and backhand winners, 30-0. But she then follows that with two backhand errors.

Huge "come on" from Sabalenka after she crushes a forehand down the line for a winner, 40-30.

And she gets on the scoreboard when Linette sends a backhand long.

10:56 AM

Linette 2-0 Sabalenka* (*denotes next server)

First ace of the match by Linette, 30-15. Backhand volley winner by Linette, 40-15.

Linette consolidates the break when Sabalenka puts a backhand return into the tramlines.

10:53 AM

First set: Magda Linette* 1-0 Aryna Sabalenka (*denotes next server)

Early show of Linette's ability to stay in the point and force opponents into errors. Another mistake by Sabalenka and Linette has three break points.

And Sabalenka crumbles, sending a backhand well long. Linette breaks. Perfect start by Linette.

10:51 AM

Both players have just walked out

It appeared to be slightly louder cheer for Sabalenka from the Rod Laver Arena.

10:47 AM

Rybakina beats Azarenka to make the final

Right, so that is one Australian finalist locked in.

Victoria Azarenka, a two-time champion in Mebourne won't be best pleased with her performance. The 33-year-old stayed in touch during the first test but sadly her level dropped in the second set

A deserved win for Rybakina, who is through to her first Australian Open final.

10:41 AM

Sabalenka after her quarter-final victory over Donna Vekic

10:32 AM

Magda Linette on her dream run

10:20 AM

Women's semi-final day

Hello and welcome to coverage of the second women's Australian Open semi-final between Magda Linette vs Aryna Sabalenka in Melbourne.

Linette is into the last four of grand slam for the first time after defeating Karolina Pliskova in straight sets in the previous round. And the Polish player says staying calm has helped her performances.

"I had so much experience on those big courts before, because almost every Grand Slam I ended up on a big court one way or another," she said.

"I played so many big players already. It's just nothing really new for me. Just another match. "Of course it's a way, like, more far in the draw. But still, it kind of feels the same. Because usually I played Karolina in the first round already twice at the US Open, so it feels quite normal."

Sabalenka goes into the match as the favourite but expressed her admiration for Linette. "She's a great player," she said.

"She's playing great tennis these weeks in Australia. Yeah, moving well, serving well, handling emotions well. Yeah, she's a great player.

It's going to be great battle. I'm really looking forward for this match." Sabalenka has been one of the most consistent players on the WTA Tour in recent years but flattered to deceive in the grand slams.

But with a place in the final at stake, the Belarusian is keen to meet her compatriot Victoria Azarenka on Saturday. "I really want it to happen," she said. "I know that Vika will do everything she can to make it happens.

I will do everything I can to make it happens. That's, yeah, going to be history. That's going to be just like unbelievable and tough to realize that this is actually happens.

"It just going to be huge. I think this is going to help other kids to understand that they can do well in this sport, they can be a top players."

COMMENTS