It promises to be an epic battle, with neither woman dropping a set in their six matches so far. It will be a rematch of their 2023 three-set final at Melbourne Park, which Sabalenka ultimately won.

Should two-time winner Sabalenka get her hands on the trophy again, she will become just the fourth woman in the Open era to collect five major hardcourt singles titles since the US Open and Australian Open moved to the surface in 1978 and 1988, respectively. Only Serena Williams, Steffi Graf, and Monica Seles have done it before her.

A third AO title would also place Sabalenka in legendary company on the event’s honour roll.

Most winning shots

Only five women would have earned more AO singles titles in the Open era – Williams (seven), Graf, and Seles plus Australian superstars Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong Cawley (four).

Sabalenka, bidding for a fifth Grand Slam singles title, is on an 11-match winning streak and has hit the most winners of any player during this year’s tournament (172).

The Belarusian said she is happy with her form at the moment and that those who want to predict a winner do so at their own peril.

“We both are different players,” Sabalenka said.

“We went through different things and we’re much stronger mentally and physically. We’re playing better tennis now. So, I’ll approach this as a completely different match.”

Should Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon winner, emerge victorious over the world number one, she would be the first woman since Naomi Osaka in 2019 to beat three top-10 players on her way to AO glory.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger cvs