Rybakina reaches Aussie Open final

WIMBLEDON champion Elena Rybakina today booked her place in the Australian Open final with a 7-6, 6-3 win over Victoria Azarenka.

Moscow-born Rybakina, who represents Kazakhstan, had struggled with indifferent form since beating Ons Jabeur for her first Grand Slam title.

Azarenka, bidding for a third Australian Open title, was on the back foot after being broken in the opening set. She forced a tiebreak, which Rybakina dominated, and could not stop the rot in the second set after an early break.