Australian Open 2023 order of play, Day 11 – Victoria Azarenka v Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka v Magda Linette

It’s semi-final time at the 2023 Australian Open on Wednesday, January 26.

Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka faces Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the first women’s singles semi-final before fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka takes on unseeded Magda Linette.

Who will make the final at Melbourne Park?

Semi-final I – Victoria Azarenka v Elena Rybakina

Ten years after last reaching the Australian Open semi-finals, Azarenka is back in the final four.

In 2013 she went on to win the tournament for a second time, and she should be full of confidence after taking out third seed Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals.

But how will she fare against the hard-hitting Rybakina?

Rybakina won their only previous meeting at Indian Wells last year in straight sets and has taken out three top-20 seeds in Melbourne, including world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.

Eurosport expert Laura Robson believes Rybakina’s “unplayable” serve could be one of the keys to the match.

“It is an unplayable shot at the moment, whether Azarenka takes a couple of steps back and gives her a different look on the return position, we’ll see tomorrow, but I think those first couple of games, they’ll feel each other out.”

Semi-final II – Aryna Sabalenka v Magda Linette

Sabalenka looks to be on a mission.

After making three Grand Slam semi-finals in the last two years she has powered her way into a fourth without dropping a set. She had a bit of an off day on serve in the quarter-finals against Donna Vekic but still had more than enough firepower to win.

Sabalenka is unbeaten in nine matches this season.

Linette has been the surprise package in the women’s draw.

The 30-year-old hadn’t made it past the third round of a Grand Slam before this tournament, but has beaten world No. 4 Caroline Garcia and former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova to reach the semi-finals in impressive fashion.

Sabalenka should be another step up for Linette, who has lost both of her previous meetings against the fifth seed.

Brit watch

Top seed Alfie Hewett plays Takuya Miki in the men’s wheelchair singles semi-finals and then teams up with Gordon Reid in the doubles semi-finals.

Lucy Shuker also plays in the women’s wheelchair doubles semi-finals while Ranah Stoiber plays in the girls’ singles quarter-finals.

Show Courts Order of Play – Thursday January 26 (All UK times)

Rod Laver Arena

Night session (from 08:30)

• Elena Rybakina [22] v Victoria Azarenka [24]
• Magda Linette v Aryna Sabalenka [5]

Other matches

Rinky Hijikata & Jason Kubler [WC] v Marcel Granollers & Horacio Zeballos [8] (men’s doubles semi-finals, third match on Rod Laver Arena)

Alfie Hewett [1] v Takuya Miki (men’s wheelchair singles semi-finals, first match on Kia Arena)

Alfie Hewett & Gordon Reid [2] v Daisuke Arai & Takashi Sanada (men’s wheelchair doubles semi-finals, third match on Kia Arena)

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