Rybakina, who has fired more aces than anyone in the women’s draw through to the semi-finals, cruises through her opening game to love.

Pegula then immediately comes under some pressure in her first service game - but swats away a ball in frustration after finding the net on break point.

A flat start from Pegula and a big blow to go down an early break to such a strong server.

Rybakina will serve to start the second semi-final.

At 31, Jessica Pegula is through to her first Australian Open semi-final, as she gave herself credit for staying persistent.

“The way I think about the game, I honestly think it's different than a lot of people, and I think that's my strength,” she said.

“So I think especially over the last couple of years I've kind of leaned into what my strengths are, and that is stability and my mental toughness and my ability to stay calm out there on the court and kind of just lean into that and kind of own that.”

She will now be looking to “crack the code” against the big-serving Rybakina.

“It's going to be really tough. Anyone that serves like she does, she's always going to be in the match. Not just serve, but return and from the ground. You know, it's not like she can only serve. She has a pretty well-rounded, all-around power game.”

It’s been three years since Elena Rybakina lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final, but the former Wimbledon champion is in her best form since then.

The fifth seed has won eight consecutive matches against top-10 players, a run that started at last season’s WTA Finals, and which includes her quarter-final victory over Iga Swiatek.

“I think probably now I'm more calm and going deeper in tournament,” she said when asked what she has learned in the time since her last grand slam final in 2023.

“In the beginning, when it's the first final and you go so far in the tournament, of course you are more emotional. Now I feel like I'm just doing my job, trying to improve each day. So it's kind of another day, another match.”

So, will Aryna Sabalenka have a rematch of the 2024 US Open final against Jessica Pegula? Or a rematch of the 2023 Australian Open final against Elena Rybakina?

Rybakina, runner-up to Sabalenka in 2023, takes on Pegula, who like Svitolina is on the hunt of a first major title.

Rybakina continued her strong form from last season’s WTA Finals by ending Iga Swiatek’s career grand slam bid, while Pegula beat Amanda Anisimova.

A tough defeat for Elina Svitolina, hit off the court by Sabalenka today. A first grand slam final remains out of reach after a fourth defeat in a the semi-finals, but she can look at this tournament positively after beating Mirra Andreeva and Coco Gauff to return to the world’s top 10.

“She's played great tennis, she's back in the top 10 as well,” Sabalenka said. “She beat two top 10 opponents on the way to the semi-finals. I've been watching her game, she was playing incredible against Mirra, against Coc, overall throughout the tournament, and I felt like I had to step in and and and and put as much pressure as I could back on her and I'm glad that the level was there today.

“I played great tennis and I'm happy to get this win in straight sets.”

Sabalenka is told she is just the second player to reach four straight Australian Open finals, after Martina Hingis.

”I just I cannot believe that, honestly. That’s an incredible achievement, but the job not done yet. Super happy with the win, she's such a tough opponent, was playing really incredible tennis throughout the whole week. Just super happy to be through this tough match.

”I would never think that I would be able to, first of all, make it to the top 10, and secondly, to be that consistent and be able to play on such a big arenas in front of you all and feel all the support. It's just a dream life, and every day I'm grateful for everything I have.”

Sabalenka’s stats in Melbourne are just silly. She’s through to a fourth straight final without dropping a single set. She’s had her eyes on the title ever since last year’s shock defeat to Madison Keys. That’s her only loss in Melbourne in her last 27 matches, to 26 wins.

A fourth straight Australian Open final for Aryna Sabalenka!

A big serve down the middle brings up match point and Sabalenka fires the forehand winner past Svitolina, once again on the back foot, as the World No 1 powers through.

There’s no handshake between the players, as expected, before Sabalenka blows kisses to the crowd. She moves a win away from regaining her Australian Open crown.

Svitolina forces Sabalenka to serve it out. She decides to mix up her approach on serve and moves to 40-0. Sabalenka gets a couple back, but then puts the backhand return long.

Over to Sabalenka.