Sabalenka comes through a testing, potentially pivotal, game. She slams the overhead to hold and tightens her grip on the final set.

Here comes Rybakina! Sabalenka makes a forehand error on the opening point. Rybakina is able to move inside the court and put the forehand winner away to get to 15-30.

Sabalenka has not faced break point since the opening game but will do so now as Rybakina finds depth on the return against the second serve.

Rybakina’s return is short and Sabalenka steps in to save with the forehand winner - Sabalenka roars after it as she gets to deuce and battles to stay ahead!

Sabalenka finds a deep return and then blasts the forehand winner to get to 30-30.

Rybakina can’t find the first serve, just one of five in this game, and Sabalenka gets into the point.

WHAT A SHOT FROM SABALENKA! A brilliant backhand winner, crosscourt, flashes past Rybakina to win a 16-point rally.

Break point. Sabalenka gets another look at second serve and thunders the backhand winner.

Rybakina made just one of her six first serves and Sabalenka takes advantage!

Rybakina has not been able to target the Sabalenka serve as fiercely as she did right at the start of the match. Rybakina nets on the forehand return down the line as Sabalenka holds.

Sabalenka was the dominant player in the second set and did not face a break point, such was the strength of her first serve. After Rybakina saved break points earlier in the set, she collapsed to 0-40 serving to stay in the set at 5-4.

Sabalenka maintains her remarkable record of not losing a grand slam match in straight-sets in 113 matches, going back to the US Open in 2020.

Like 2023, Sabalenka and Rybakina head to a third set in the Australian Open final.

And finally, for just the second time since the fourth round, a women’s singles match goes the distance.

Rybakina looks a little hesitant coming into the net and messes up the pick-up. Sabalenka senses her moment. A brilliant forehand winner is blasted past Rybakina.

0-30. A huge chance for Sabalenka, two points from the set. Rybakina pulls the forehand wide and Sabalenka will get three set points for the chance to level this!

Rybakina has not found a first serve.... Sabalenka has the look at the forehand pass, and whips the shot. Rybakina, looking to block, can’t control the volley.

We are going to a third!

Sabalenka moves a game away from the second set. She leans into the backhand winner down the line and then holds as Rybakina nets on the return. Over to Rybakina.

Sabalenka has won 18 of her 19 first-serve points in the second set, but only three of 10 on the second. If we head to a tiebreak ,which I think we will, that first-serve percentage will be crucial.

Sabalenka is frustrated to not put away a drive volley from over the net. Rybakina’s serving is much steadier in this second set. Back-to-back aces and she levels the second at 4-4 with a love hold.

Big serve from Sabalenka on deuce. And again on game point, finding the angle with power out wide. She races up to the ball and swats the volley away.

Point of the match! For all of the big hitting so far, it is a scramble at the net that has the crowd on their feet. Sabalenka controls the drop shot after pulled towards the net, then stretches to react to the volley from Rybakina.

Brilliant instincts from Sabalenka - but a double fault gives Rybakina a chance to prolong the game. And she forces deuce! Rybakina goes after the backhand return and arrows it down the line!