Thanks so much for joining us yet again, and we will be back later on Friday morning with another live blog leading into the mixed doubles final and the men’s semi-final clashes.
Please join us then. Bye for now.
That’s all for tonight
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Australian Open as it happened: Relieved Rybakina fights off fierce comeback to reach final; rivals’ message for a possible Serena return
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Rybakina hopes recent history repeats in Open final
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Australian Open finalist Elena Rybakina feels her recent success against World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka bodes well for her in Saturday’s final.
Rybakina beat Sabalenka in the WTA Tour final last November, winning 6-3, 7-6, and she hopes she can perform in a similar away on Rod Laver Arena on Saturday.
“It’s different conditions comparing to the other tournaments, but I think I could take only positives from that week,” Rybakina said on Friday.
“This what I’m trying to do this season, remembering some good stuff from this WTA final and just bring it to this season.”
‘Disappointed in my level’: Pegula
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US star Jess Pegula admitted her level of play wasn’t good enough tonight, but she still believes she can beat the best players on the tour.
Pegula pointed to the slower night conditions and her own slow start for the loss to Elena Rybakina.
“Obviously having set points, knowing that I was able to stay in there and kind of start turning the match at times and start playing a lot better towards the end, you know, just in time to give myself a chance, but yeah, that was tough tonight,” Pegula said.
“Honestly, I’m disappointed in my level. I felt like I didn’t play very well until maybe the very end, and even at the end it was still kind of shoddy. I missed a couple of balls, I had a lot of chances often.
“I felt like both of us were a little back and forth at times. She was just playing a little bit cleaner than I was.
“Yeah, I’m just kind of disappointed that I wasn’t able to bring a better level tonight.”
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‘It pissed me off’: Sabalenka
By Marc McGowan
Aryna Sabalenka has spoken about the controversial hindrance call from the first set of her semi-final win tonight.
She also overcame a controversial hindrance call on the first point of the fourth game, where the chair umpire ruled her grunt had lasted too long.
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A subsequent video review upheld that decision, which Sabalenka gave a thumbs-down reaction to, but she ended up securing the first break in that game after overwhelming Svitolina from the back of the court. But Sabalenka was still bemused about the call post-match.
“That’s never happened to me, especially with my grunting,” she said.
Your view: Who will win the women’s final?
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‘There are a lot of positives to take’: Rybakina
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Elena Rybakina spoke to the broadcasters post-match.
On the tense finish:
I played an epic tie-break here a couple of years ago, [and] I lost it. I think it was the longest women’s match played, and a little flashback came, you know? But I’m super happy that in the end it turned my way, and I’m looking forward to play on Saturday.
On Pegula’s game and what Rybakina did well:
Well, I’m pretty proud that, no matter the situation, I was leading, and then it got very tight. I still stayed there. I was fighting for each point, and I’m just happy that actually the match had started really well compared to the previous matches I played. So, overall it’s a lot of positives to take. I just need some rest and, yeah, again thank you so much [to the crowd] for coming – I hope to see you on Saturday.
On facing Sabalenka in the 2023 final:
It was a great battle and I think just, in the end, she played a bit better, and she won that match – very deserved. I want to enjoy the final and, hopefully, I’m going to serve better than today, and it’s going to help me and we will see. But I’m so excited to play.
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Rybakina is into the final
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Elena Rybakina is locked in for a clash with Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open women’s final.
The Kazakhstani star had a straight-sets win over US stalwart Jess Pegula 6-3, 7-6 in a little more than 90 minutes on Thursday night. But there was far more to it than that.
Rybakina had three chances on match point against Pegula’s serve but couldn’t find the winning moment.
Pegula then found a way to hold her serve and then broke her to keep the match alive.
But with another chance on her own racquet, Rybakina floundered again as Pegula forced a tie-breaker for the second set. It took her until 9-7 to finally get the job done.
Pegula forces a tiebreak
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That was gutsy from Jess Pegula, who has broken Elena Rybakina’s booming serve and set up a second set tie-breaker.
A nervous-looking Rybakina has some work still to do here.
It’s 6-3, 6-6 as we head to the breaker.
Pegula fights back despite match points
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Elena Rybakina has fluffed three match points, now she’s has dropped a break point as Jess Pegula makes a stunning last-ditch comeback.
Rybakina’s cutting edge has escaped her just when the match was there for the taking, and she’s repeatedly hit out or wide with shots she previously nailed.
Pegula is playing good, consistent tennis and finding the odd winner, but Rybakina has gone a little off the boil.
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Sabalenka, Svitolina would welcome Serena back
By Marc McGowan
Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina have both welcomed the potential return of 23-time grand slam champion Serena Williams after she refused to rule out a comeback in an interview in the United States.
Dual Australian Open champion and world No.1 Sabalenka said the prospect of a Williams comeback was “amazing”.
“I heard that she’s enjoying her life, and whatever makes her happy, I’m happy for her,” Sabalenka said.
“If she wants to come back, that’s her decision. It’s going to be fun to see her back on tour. She’s got the personality, and she’s a fun one. It will be cool.”
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