Lagatar24 Desk
In the women’s singles semifinal of the first Grand Slam of the year, Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka delivered a dominant performance, defeating Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6–2, 6–3 to reach the Australian Open final for the fourth consecutive year. With this feat, Sabalenka becomes only the third woman in history—after Evonne Goolagong and Martina Hingis—to achieve this milestone.
No Handshake Sparks Political Tension
Following the match, Sabalenka drew attention for avoiding a handshake and post-match photo with Svitolina. The incident is believed to be a consequence of the ongoing geopolitical tensions between Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. Similar moments have been witnessed in past tournaments as well due to the ongoing war.
A Record-Breaking Journey
Sabalenka’s consistency on the Australian hard courts cements her place among tennis greats. Her aggressive baseline game and mental composure helped her dominate throughout the match against Svitolina, who struggled to find answers.
