Aryna Sabalenka passes Madison Keys test to book Brisbane semifinal spot

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka passed her first big test of the season—an Australian Open final rematch against No. 5 seed Madison Keys—to book her spot in the Brisbane International semifinals.

Sabalenka, the top seed and defending champion in Brisbane, needed an hour and 30 minutes to claim revenge, winning 6-3, 6-3 in an entertaining battle between two of the WTA’s biggest hitters.

“She’s a great player, always tough battles against her,” Sabalenka said, speaking to Jelena Dokic on court after improving to 6-2 in her head-to-head against Keys.

“The whole match I was trying to stay focused, I was trying to stay in control on my serve and put as much pressure as I can on her serve.

“That’s all I was thinking about, and I think I did it well. She’s aggressive, but I tried to put all that speed back on her.”

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Competing in her first tournament of the 2026 season, Sabalenka has shaken off any lingering rust after a series of off-season exhibition events. So far, she’s passed with flying colors, yet to drop a set at the WTA 500 event.

Against Keys, Sabalenka weathered 16 winners from her opponent in the first set (she hit only six herself) and stayed patient. It took nearly 30 minutes for the pair to reach 3-3, but from there Sabalenka took control and began swinging more freely.

The second set was closer than the scoreline suggested, with Keys breaking Sabalenka’s serve twice as her opponent’s frustration mounted.

Keys was attempting to bounce back after a grueling quarterfinal the day before, when the American edged No. 12 Diana Shnaider 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4). She was sporting medical strapping on her left thigh during the match on Pat Rafter Arena, and couldn’t match Sabalenka’s firepower as the match unfolded.

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Up next for Sabalenka is a tricky semifinal clash against Karolina Muchova, who defeated No. 3 seed Elena Rybakina 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.

Muchova owns a 3-1 edge in their head-to-head. Sabalenka won their first meeting in 2019, but Muchova has taken the next three encounters, most recently in the quarterfinals in Beijing in 2024.

“It doesn’t matter what’s the score between us, the past stays in the past,” Sabalenka stated. “I’m just trying to bring everything I’ve been working throughout my whole career, and I just try to be better every time.”