Rybakina tops Azarenka to make Australian Open women’s final

By HOWARD FENDRICH
AP Tennis Writer

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina has reached her second final in the past three Grand Slam tournaments by beating Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (4), 6-3 at the Australian Open. Azarenka was the champion at Melbourne Park in 2012 and 2013. She joins a list of players eliminated by Rybakina over the past two weeks that includes No. 1 Iga Swiatek, No. 17 Jelena Ostapenko and 2022 Australian Open runner-up Danielle Collins. Rybakina won with her powerful serve and stinging groundstrokes. She hit nine aces. Rybakina will take on either No. 5 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus or unseeded Magda Linette of Poland in Saturday’s final.