Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan waves after winning her Australian Open semifinal against American Jessica Pegula on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Melbourne. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after defeating Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in their Australian Open semifinal on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Melbourne. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) ExpandBy JOHN PYE AP Sports WriterMELBOURNE, Australia — Not even a point penalty for hindrance slowed Aryna Sabalenka’s run to a fourth consecutive Australian Open final. The top-ranked Sabalenka overpowered Elina Svitolina, 6-2, 6-3, Thursday night to move within one victory of a third Australian Open title in four years. That’s all I care about.”Sabalenka is the third woman in the Open era to reach four consecutive singles finals at the Australian Open after Evonne Goolagong and Martina Hingis.