Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek Eye Final Showdown At Australian Open

Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek are clear favourites to win their respective semi-finals on Thursday and set up a blockbuster Australian Open title decider. The men's finalists at Melbourne Park will be decided on Friday, leaving the women in the spotlight in a night-time double-header at Rod Laver Arena. First up at 7:30 pm (0830 GMT) will be the world number one and defending champion Sabalenka against Spain's 11th seed Paula Badosa, followed on to the centre court by five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek against Madison Keys. Sabalenka can become the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1999 to win the Australian Open three years in a row.

If she does, she will join a select group of five women who have completed the Melbourne three-peat. The others are Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles.

"I'm really happy that I put myself in this situation where I have the opportunity to become one of them," said the 26-year-old Belarusian. 

"To be next to those names, wow, that's just a dream." 

Badosa stunned world number three Coco Gauff in straight sets to reach her maiden Grand Slam semi-final at the age of 27.

"She's a great player and she has been through a lot. Now she's back on her best game. I'm really happy to see that," said Sabalenka.

The Spaniard almost quit tennis last year because of a chronic back condition and she plunged outside the top 100.

"A year ago I didn't know if I had to retire from this sport," said Badosa, who reached a career-high two in the world in 2022. 

She is projected to get back in the top 10 after Melbourne.

Poland's Swiatek has been the dominant force in the women's draw so far, matching her previous best Australian Open run from 2022, when she lost to Danielle