Sabalenka sets up title clash with Kostyuk; Poland reach United Cup final

Aryna Sabalenka beat Karolina Muchova in straight sets to reach her third Brisbane International final in a row on Saturday, a week before the Australian Open.

Sabalenka looked in great touch against the tricky Czech, who had won their last three meetings and went into the match as one of the few players with a winning record over the world number one.

But Sabalenka showed her class and power as she broke Muchova once in each set to take the semi-final 6-3, 6-4 in 89 minutes and will face Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in Sunday’s women’s final.

Former world number one Daniil Medvedev will take on unseeded American Brandon Nakashima in the men’s final.

“I struggled against her a couple of times (in the past),” Sabalenka, the defending champion, said of Muchova.

“I’m happy that today I was focused from the beginning and I was able to show such great tennis and put her under so much pressure and get the win in straight sets.”

The 27-year-old Belarusian said she could feel her level getting better with every match in Brisbane, where she is yet to drop a set.

She said that with seven of the world’s top 10 having entered, it was ideal preparation for the Australian Open, which begins in Melbourne on January 18.

Sabalenka is aiming to win a third Australian Open in four years.

“I definitely feel that compared to the first match here, I’m playing better and better,” she said.

“That’s really important heading to Melbourne, to build that level, and to play some great matches against great opponents.

“So I’m super happy with the performance so far and cannot wait to play my final match here.”

Kostyuk, who entered the week ranked 26th in the world, swept past world number six Jessica Pegula 6-0, 6-3 in just 55 minutes in a stunning display of power and aggression.

Kostyuk’s demolition of the American made it three wins over top 10 players in succession.

She beat world number three Amanda Anisimova in the third round and ninth-ranked Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals.

“I think it was one of those days today when everything you touch turns into gold,” Kostyuk said.

In the men’s draw, top seed Medvedev beat Alex Michelsen of the United States 6-4, 6-2 while Nakashima defeated another American in Aleksandar Kovacevic, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.

Meanwhile, Poland took revenge on holders the US to set up a United Cup final against Switzerland in Sydney despite Iga Swiatek suffering defeat to Coco Gauff on Saturday.

The Swiss beat Belgium by the same 2-1 scoreline in the other semi-final, with Belinda Bencic playing a starring role.

Hubert Hurkacz beat Taylor Fritz 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (7/2) to put Poland, beaten by the United States in last year’s final, ahead in the tie.

World number four Gauff struck back for the Americans with a dominant 6-4, 6-2 win over Swiatek.

It was Gauff’s fourth consecutive victory over the world number two and a statement win with the Australian Open just over a week away.

Gauff reappeared soon after to team up with Christian Harrison in the deciding mixed-doubles match, only to go down 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7/3) to Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski and put Poland in the final.

In the other last-four clash, Stan Wawrinka lost in three sets in gruelling heat of more than 40C but Switzerland beat Belgium.

The Tokyo Olympic champion Bencic had put Switzerland in front with a battling 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/0) victory over Elise Mertens in two hours and 37 minutes.

Wawrinka, playing his final year before retirement, fought back to force a deciding set against Zizou Bergs, but the Belgian ultimately won 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 in two-and-a-half hours.

Alcaraz beats Sinner in exhibition match: Carlos Alcaraz beat great rival Jannik Sinner in a light-hearted sell-out exhibition match in South Korea on Saturday ahead of the Australian Open.

Eight days before the Melbourne Grand Slam and in their first appearances this year, the Spanish world number one won 7-5, 7-6 (8/6) in front of an enthusiastic 12,000 crowd in Incheon.

Agencies