ARYNA Sabalenka has powered her way past some of the world’s best in the past three tournaments, showing a couple of months off and a change of year has not slowed down her remarkable winning streak. The Belarusian star won the final two WTA Tour tournaments of 2020, and has raced through the 2021 Abu Dhabi Women’s Tennis Open to reach yet another final.

The fourth seed booked her place in the final courtesy of a 6-3 6-2 triumph over Greek ninth seed Maria Sakkari, who herself was fresh off a 10-game winning streak having been 2-6 2-2 against top seed Sofia Kenin in the quarter finals before winning in three sets. The victory brought up Sabalenka’s 14th consecutive win heading into the extended summer Down Under, and if she can triumph in the final, will make it three consecutive titles for the power player.

In the match, Sabalenka produced eight aces to two, and won a whopping 82.8 per cent of her first serve points, and 68.8 per cent of her second serve, only dropping 10 points in total off her serve. Sakkari was not as strong, winning just five of 19 off her second serve and was broken four times to one, as Sabalenka took control.

“I’m just focusing on the right things,” Sabalenka said post-match. “This helps me to, first of all, not think about all these wins, and secondly, to keep winning. I think I just need to keep focusing on my game, keep focusing on the movement on the court, and try to do everything I can in the moment. I think this works really well.”

The match lasted just 57 minutes in a one-sided show, as Sabalenka hit 22 winners and only eight unforced errors – an area that prior to the winning streak had let her down – against a quality player.

“I just want to improve everything in my game,” Sabalenka said. “I think there are still so many things to go and to improve. “I would say focusing on the right things helps me have fun on the court, and it makes my life a little bit easier. “I’m just enjoying the process and enjoying the game.”

The one player standing between the fourth seed and a third straight title is Russian Veronika Kudermetova. The world number 46 booked her place in the final having already guaranteed herself a career-high ranking that will surpass her 38th in the world 12 months ago. At 23-years-old she was the more experienced player in her semi-final, defeating 18-year-old Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk in straight sets, 7-6 6-4.

The first tiebreak went 10-8 before Kudermetova could finally claim victory, and there was not much between the players all match. The Russian produced seven aces to six, and won 67.5 per cent of her first serve points to 60.9 per cent, as well as 39.1 to 29.2 per cent of their second serve points. Breaking five times to four – the last being a crucial second serve break, Kudermetova continued her good form of the tournament to bring up her first ever WTA Tour singles final.

Kudermetova reached the final off the back off a massive upset win over second seed Elina Svitolina, having toppled 10th seed and one of the in-form players of the 2020 season in Anett Kontaveit in the first round. Along the way she also claimed victories over Bianca Turati and Paula Badosa.

“I think it was a really tough match today,” Kudermetova said post-match. “I think we were a little bit nervous. “It was really tough, but I tried to be focused until the end.”

“I think I have a little bit more experience than Marta. “She’s really young, she’s 18. “Today, I think it was the key, [that] I really have a little bit more experience than her.”

Kudermetova said she was looking forward to her match against Sabalenka, knowing full well she was going in as underdog and looked to just continue to play the way she had been, without pressure or expectations.

“We’re friendly, and I think it’s a really interesting and fun match tomorrow,” she said. “From my side, I don’t have expectations for tomorrow, because Aryna, she is a Top 10 player, she plays unbelievable, she’s played really good here.”

“I think she’ll have a little bit more pressure than me because she’s supposed to win tomorrow. “She’s stayed Top 10, she’s already won two tournaments in a row. “Tomorrow, I’ll play free, I’ll try to play relaxed and try to enjoy my final.”

Picture: WTA/Jimmie48