Aryna Sabalenka swept Coco Gauff in the semifinals to move one match win from repeating as Australian Open champion.
Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed from Belarus, prevailed 7-6 (2), 6-4 over No. 4 Gauff, who was bidding to win a second consecutive Grand Slam.
Instead, Sabalenka bids to become the first back-to-back Australian Open champion since countrywoman Victoria Azarenka in 2012 and 2013.
On Saturday, she gets 12th seed Zheng Qinwen of China, who beat six foes ranked outside the top 50 to reach her first major final.
MORE: Australian Open Men’s Draw
Earlier in the tournament, Linda Noskova, a 19-year-old, 50th-ranked Czech, ousted top-ranked Iga Swiatek in three sets in the third round.
Swiatek, a four-time Grand Slam champion, had won 18 matches in a row since Oct. 1.
Four-time major champion Naomi Osaka, in her first Slam since July childbirth, played well in a first-round loss to No. 16 Caroline Garcia of France.
2024 Australian Open Women’s Singles Draw
