By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@BrisbaneTennis.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka beat Madison Keys on Friday in Brisbane in a repeat of last year’s Melbourne final, as she continued her preparations for the first slam of the year.
Keys stunned Sabalenka nearly 12 months ago, but the Belarusian took revenge on the American with a statement 6-3, 6-3 victory to reach the semi-finals.
The 27-year-old, a four-time major winner, maintained her strong start to the year with a third consecutive straight-sets win, conceding just 13 games across the six sets she has played.
“I know that I lost in Australia against her, and that’s the big motivation of course to go out and to get the win,” said defending champion Sabalenka, who beat Keys at Indian Wells last March.
“But I never stay in the past and never remember things from the previous meeting. My approach is like it’s a new match, doesn’t matter what happened in the past, I have to go out there and play my best tennis.”
Sabalenka will meet Karolina Muchova for a place in the Brisbane final after the Czech player upset world number five Elena Rybakina 6-2 2-6 6-4.
Muchova, ranked 20th, held her nerve in a tight deciding set to end former Wimbledon champion Rybakina’s 13-match winning streak.