The first Grand Slam tournament of the season, the Australian Open, is underway in Melbourne.
Ukraine’s top tennis player Elina Svitolina (No. 12 WTA), who reached the semifinals of this tournament for the first time in her career, lost on Thursday to the world No. 1, “neutral” Aryna Sabalenka.
The match ended 2–6, 3–6 and lasted 1 hour and 18 minutes.
In the Australian Open 2026 final, Sabalenka will face the winner of the other semifinal between Jessica Pegula (USA, No. 6) and Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan, No. 5).
The Australian Open 2026 will conclude on February 1.
