BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka has advanced to the Brisbane International final for the third year in a row after a 6-3, 6-4 win Saturday over Karolina Muchová.
Sabalenka clinched the semifinal at Pat Rafter Arena on her fourth match point to advance to Sunday’s final against the winner of a later semifinal between fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula and Marta Kostyuk.
Read More: Aryna Sabalenka passes Madison Keys test to book Brisbane semifinal spot
On Friday, in a rematch of last year’s Australian Open final, Sabalenka broke Madison Keys’ in five straight service games on the way to a 6-3, 6-3 win. Last year at Melbourne Park, Keys beat Sabalenka for her first Grand Slam singles title.
The Brisbane International is a tuneup event for this year’s Australian Open, which begins Jan. 18.
