Sabalenka-Keys set up AO finals re-run in Brisbane

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka won her seventh straight match at the Brisbane International on Thursday, reaching the quarter-finals 6-3, 6-3 over Sorana Cirstea.

The world No. 1 has taken victory in 35 of her last 37 matches, last losing in the year-end final to Elena Rybakina in October and to Jessica Pegula in Wuhan a month earlier.

Rybakina also advanced in the Queensland capital with her 6-3, 6-2 defeat of Spain’s Paula Badosa.

Sabalenka will aim for a repeat of the Australian Open final which she lost a year ago to Madison Keys.

Keys battled past Diana Schnaider 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) to book the final four and keep alive her streak of not having lost in Australia since 2023.

Schnaider saved a pair of Keys match points in the 10th game of the final set but drove a return long over the baseline in the concluding tiebreaker as Keys advanced after three hours.

Sabalenka said she’s ready to face off again against the American.

“Twelve months ago, the (lost) final was not clear in my head. 

“But that loss really pushed me to fight harder and keep working on my game.

“I want to make sure it does not happen again. I’m excited to play Madison her in Australia again.”

Main photo:- Aryna Sabalenka with 2025 US Open Trophy – by Mark Greenwood/ISFLtd