Australian Open women's singles champion Aryna Sabalenka will defend her crown against Qinwen Zheng in Saturday's final following respective semi-final successes for the pair on Thursday.
Sabalenka completed her revenge mission over Coco Gauff with a 7-6[2] 6-4 win over the US Open holder, before Zheng saw off another first-time semi-finalist in Dayana Yastremska 6-4 6-4.
In a repeat of last year's Flushing Meadows showpiece match, where Sabalenka took the first set against Gauff only to slump to defeat against the home favourite, the Belarusian second seed exacted her revenge mission in emphatic style.
Sabalenka benefitted from Gauff errors straight away, as the American double-faulted on her opening two service points and was broken straight off the bat, only to immediately draw level in a back-and-forth start.
Another pair of double faults from Gauff gifted Sabalenka a break for a 4-2 lead before holding, but the reigning champion would seemingly succumb to a phenomenal Gauff fightback as the American won four games on the spin.
However, it was then the teenager's turn to lose serve while attempting to clinch the opening set, and Sabalenka proceeded to reel off several forehand winners in a dominant tie-breaker performance.
Love holds were the theme in the second set as both women tightened up behind their first serves, but after earning a timely break in the ninth game, Sabalenka sealed victory on her second match point thanks to another ferocious first serve.
The world number two ended the semi-final with 33 winners to her name and is now the first player to reach back-to-back Australian Open women's singles finals since Serena Williams, who achieved the feat in 2016 and 2017.
Following Sabalenka's deserved victory, Zheng and Ukrainian qualifier Yastremska broke new ground with their Grand Slam semi-final baptisms, but the Chinese 12th seed was a cut above on the evening.
With one hour and 42 minutes on the board, Zheng saw off Yastremska in straight sets to book her place in the final, winning 76% of points behind her first serve and saving eight of the 10 break points she conceded to the Ukrainian.
Early nerves were prevalent for both Zheng and Yastremska, who traded breaks in their second service games, but the qualifier was soon hampered by an injury after losing serve again in the seventh game.
Yastremska required attention from the trainer before persevering, staying in the first set with a convincing love hold, but Zheng needed just one set point to establish a 1-0 lead in the semi-final.
Lightning struck twice in the second with a pair of early breaks for both players, but an untimely double fault and unforced error from Yastremska set Zheng on her way to victory as the Chinese broke again for a 4-3 advantage.
A final hold to 15 from Yastremska only delayed Zheng's celebrations, as the 12th seed blasted a 103mph ace past the Ukrainian to reach her maiden Grand Slam final, where she will meet Sabalenka for only the second time after losing to the Belarusian in last year's US Open quarter-finals. body check tags ::
