Rybakina and Azarenka will take on each other in the semi-finals of the 2023 Australian Open on January 26.
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Elena Rybakina’s journey wasn’t as smooth as that of her rival in the semis. In the opening round, Rybakina defeated Elisabetta Cocciaretto of Italy 7-5, 6-3. Several service games were broken in the opening set, with Rybakina breaking Cocciaretto’s first service game to take a 3-0 lead. At 5-3, Cocciaretto broke Rybakina’s serve, putting her back in the game. However, Rybakina broke her rival’s serve at the critical 6-5 point to take the opening set 7-5. To win the game, Rybakina easily closed out the second set at 6-3. In the next two matches, she beat Swiatek and Ostapenko.
Azarenka advanced to the fourth round, where Zhu Lin awaited her, by defeating Sofia Kenin, Nadia Podorska, and Madison Keys. In the first set, the Belarusian lost an early break but quickly recovered on serve. She dropped serve once more, but this time she was unable to recover, and the opening set was lost to her. In the second set, Azarenka came back strongly and won by dropping just one game. Six serves were broken in a row to begin the third set. The former World No. 1 gained the crucial break to go ahead 5-4 in the ninth game, and she served out the victory to win 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. She beat Pegula in the last round.
| Rybakina vs Azarenka | Match details |
|---|---|
| Date | January 26, 2023 |
| Surface | Hard courts |
| Tournament | Australian Open |
| Stage | Semi-finals |
| Time (India) | 2:00 P.M. |
| Opponent | Score |
|---|---|
| Jelena Ostapenko | 6-2, 6-4 (W) |
| Iga Swiatek | 6-4, 6-4 (W) |
| Danielle Collins | 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 (W) |
| Kaja Juvan | 6-2, 6-1 (W) |
| Elisabetta Cocciaretto | 7-5, 6-3 (W) |
| Opponent | Score |
|---|---|
| Jessica Pegula | 6-4, 6-1 (W) |
| Zhu Lin | 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 (W) |
| Madison Keys | 1-6, 6-2, 6-1 (W) |
| Nadia Podoroska | 6-1, 6-0 (W) |
| Sofia Kenin | 6-4, 7-6 (W) |
Rybakina and Azarenka have played against each other once in the past with Rykabina winning that encounter.
| Tournament | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Indian Wells Masters | Elena Rykabina | 6-3, 6-4 |
Rybakina and Azarenka will take on each other in the semi-finals of the 2023 Australian Open on January 26.
Australia – Nine and Stan Sport
Canada – TSN and RDS
India – Sony Sports Network
UK – Eurosport
USA – ESPN Network
The matches of both men’s and women’s can be live-streamed on demand on the Tennis TV app and website.
