World number 1 Aryna Sabalenka beat unseeded Czech player Marie Bouzkova 6-3 6-4 in 1 hour and 44 minutes to reach the semifinals at the Brisbane International.
Sabalenka avenged a defeat against Bouzkova, who beat the three-time Grand Slam champion in the semifinals in Washington last August.
Sabalenka saved four of five break points she faced and converted three of the ten break points she faced.
Bouzkova earned an early break in the first game of the opening set. Sabalenka came back by breaking serve in the second game. The world number 1 player broke for the second time in the sixth game to seal the second set 6-3.
Sabalenka went up a set and a break in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. Bouzkova saved two match points on her serve from 5-3 down and held two break points. Sabalenka converted her fifth match point with a service winner.
Sabalenka set up a semifinal clash against Mirra Andreeva, who saved two set points in the second set to beat her childhood idol Ons Jabeur 6-4 7-6 (7-2).
Sabalenka leads 2-1 in her previous head-to-head matches against Andreeva.
Sabalenka won her first two head-to-head matches in straight sets in the past two editions of the Madrid Mutua Open in 2023 and 2024, but Andreeva beat her Belarusian opponent 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-4 in the quarter final of Roland Garros in 2024. “She is a great player. We played an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi. So I got to know her a little bit better. She is a nice person and a great person. We have had great battles in the past. I am really looking forward to facing her tomorrow”, said Sabalenka.
