MELBOURNE Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Aryna Sabalenka will play for a historic third consecutive Australian Open title in Saturday's final after overpowering Paula Badosa in the semifinals.
Sabalenka, the world number one, beat the 11th seeded Badosa 6-4, 6-2 in one hour and 26 minutes at Melbourne Park on Thursday night.
It extends Sabalenka's winning streak at the Australian Open to 20 matches as the Belarusian aims to become the sixth woman in history - and first since Martina Hingis in the 1990s - to win the Australian Open in three straight years.
"I'm proud of myself, I'm proud of my team that we were able to put ourselves in such a situation," Sabalenka said on court.
"If I'll be able to put my name in the history it's going to mean a lot, it's going to mean the world for me. At first I was dreaming to win at least one Grand Slam. Now I have this opportunity, it's incredible."
Badosa, playing in her first Grand Slam semifinal, saved a break point in the opening game of the match and broke Sabalenka's serve in the second for a 2-0 lead.
The turning point occurred in the third game when, with Badosa leading 40-15 on her own serve, Sabalenka returned a serve with a crosscourt forehand winner before taking the game to deuce and breaking back.
At 2-2, Sabalenka needed four opportunities to eventually take the decisive second break in a 10-minute game. From there Sabalenka led through the rest of the match, converting her first set point opportunity with her second - and final ace.
After requiring 53 minutes to claim the first, Sabalenka was dominant in the second, winning 29 points compared to 18 for Badosa as she closed it out in 33 minutes.
Sabalenka will play either second seed Iga Swiatek or Madison Keys in Saturday night's final. ■
