CANBERRA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka is the first player through to the women's singles final at the Adelaide International.
Second seed Sabalenka beat Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu 6-3, 6-2 in 78 minutes on Saturday afternoon to reach her first final on Australian soil.
"I'm happy with the level I played today, especially with Begu's different game," Sabalenka said after the match.
"She's playing a little bit, like, a different style, so I'm super happy that I'm able to win this match."
The 24-year-old will play either 18-year-old Czech qualifier Linda Noskova or top seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia in Sunday's final.
If victorious, it will be Sabalenka's first title on the WTA tour since May 2021.
She said she was looking forward to Sunday's final regardless of opponent.
"I mean either way it's going to be a tough match, both of them are playing really great tennis this week," she said.
Former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and Russian star Daniil Medvedev will face off in the men's semifinal on Saturday night in the most highly anticipated match of the Australian summer so far.
Djokovic, a nine-time winner of the Australian Open, set up the blockbuster clash with a commanding 6-3, 6-4 win against Canada's Denis Shapovalov on Friday night.
"Played really well, he got into play in the second set but I just managed to stay, I guess, mentally composed in the right moments and play my best tennis," the Serbian said after the match. ■
