MELBOURNE ¨C Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and Madison Keys made rocky starts on Thursday but eventually secured contrasting victories to set up a heavy-metal Australian Open final showdown that will pit two of the game¡¯s big hitters against each other.
Belarusian top seed Sabalenka overwhelmed her best friend Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2, in an impressive display of sheer power to storm into her third straight title clash at the year¡¯s opening Grand Slam, where she will bid for her fourth major title.
Keys rallied from a set down and saved a match point to stun Iga Swiatek 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (8), in a thriller, making her first final at the Australian Open and second at the majors after a run to the 2017 U.S. Open title clash ended in a loss to Sloane Stephens.
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