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World Number One Aryna Sabalenka Sets Up Brisbane Semi-Final Against Russian Teen Mirra Andreeva

World number one Aryna Sabalenka stepped up her Australian Open preparations as she overpowered Marie Bouzkova in straight sets to reach the Brisbane International semi-finals on Friday. Sabalenka, who has won the last two titles at the Grand Slam in Melbourne, beat the Czech player 6-3, 6-4 in 1 hour 45 minutes. She now plays Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva, who defeated Tunisia's Ons Jabeur 6-4, 7-6 (7/2). "Her movement is really great, she's trying to get to every ball and make you play an extra shot so that's really difficult," Sabalenka said of the 44th-ranked Bouzkova.

Emma Navarro Stunned By Wildcard, Novak Djokovic-Nick Kyrgios Doubles Run Ends At Brisbane

Australian wildcard Kimberly Birrell stunned second seed Emma Navarro on Wednesday while the doubles act of Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios came to a shuddering halt at the Brisbane International. But it was all smiles from defending men's champion Grigor Dimitrov, who powered into the quarter-finals in straight sets. In the opening match on Pat Rafter Arena, Birrell matched world number eight Navarro stroke-for-stroke to put a dent in the American's Australian Open preparations. Navarro had a stellar 2024, going deep in all four Grand Slams including a run to the semi-finals of the US Open. She was expected to brush aside the challenge of 26-year-old Birrell, who has never broken into the top 100 in her 10 years on the WTA Tour.