Beaten Aus Open semi-finalist blasts Aussie journo as Sabalenka-Rybakina final locked in

Two-time Australian Open champion and beaten 2023 semi-finalist Victoria Azarenka had no time for questions which veered off the tennis court.

Victoria Azarenka reacts in the Semifinal singles match against Elena Rybakina. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

Fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka is through to her first grand slam final after crushing unseeded underdog Magda Linette's golden run at the Australian Open in a 7-6 6-2 victory.

She will play Russian-born Elena Rybakina in the women's singles final, after the 23-year-old pulled off a 7-6 6-3 thrashing of her own against 24th seed and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka.

Azarenka was in no mood for journalists after her straight sets defeat.

The veteran was asked a prickly question in her post match press conference as the Open continues to be somewhat overshadowed by the shocking scenes of Russian nationalists staging a demonstration in support of President Vladimir Putin outside Rod Laver Arena.

On Thursday it emerged Novak Djokovic's father Srdan posed for a photo with members of the group, including one man wearing a T-shirt featuring the 'Z' pro-war symbol. 

The demonstration, which followed Djokovic's win over Andrey Rublev on Wednesday night, was a critical discussion point, however, Azarenka, who is playing under a neutral flag as  Belarusian player, batted away the series of questions.

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The 33-year-old's exchange with one reporter became frosty as she said her response was likely to be "spun". 

"You’re asking me about things that maybe somebody says are in my control, but I don’t believe that," she said.

Victoria Azarenka reacts in the Semifinal singles match against Elena Rybakina. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

"I don’t know what you want me to answer. If it’s a provocative question, then you can spin the story however you want."

She said the off-field scandal has nothing to do with the players at the tournament. 

"Whatever the answer I’m going to give it to you right now, it’s going to be turned whichever way you want to turn it to," she said. 

"So does it bother me? What bothers me is there’s real things that’s going on in the world."

You can read the full exchange below. 

Fellow Belarusian Sabalenka, meanwhile, had no headaches at all.

After fighting back to take the first set in a tiebreak, Sabalenka bullied her 30-year-old Polish opponent around the court.

Linette didn't go away and tried desperately to hang on but the Sabakenka's power was too much.

Sabalenka is into her first grand slam final. Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The wait is finally over for Sabalenka, who had previously made three other semi-finals but had been unable to get over the line.

This year so far, Sabalenka is now 10-0, having not dropped a set in a remarkable run of form.

Sabalenka’s pressed the extra power button in that match and it hurts…

— Patrick Mouratoglou (@pmouratoglou) January 26, 2023

Aryna Sabalenka signs a ruthless performance against Magda Linette, overpowering her especially since the start of the first set tie-break, to win 7-6(1), 6-2 and reach her first Grand Slam final at the #AusOpen.

Saturday’s final vs. Elena Rybakina will be made of fireworks.

— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) January 26, 2023

Every few months I have to remind myself that Aryna Sabalenka is just 24 years old 🐯

— Meredith Cash (@mercash22) January 26, 2023

Earlier, the 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina produced a stunning opening set before the 23-year-old flexed her muscles and claimed the 7-6, 6-3 victory against Azarenka.

The two traded blows in the opening set with Rybakina having a chance to serve for the set only for Azarenka to battle back and force it into a tiebreak.

But it was in the second set when the younger star pulled away as she booked her ticket into her second Grand Slam final in the space of six months.

Rybakina is chasing a second grand slam title. Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

Her dominant outing left Australian great Jelena Dokic believing she's set to dominate the tennis landscape for years to come along with runaway World No. 1 Iga Swiatek.

"I do think though at 23, if she does get through this match, I mean, she has a good chance, it will be her second Grand Slam out of her last three so she's dominating on to the big stage," Dokic said on Nine's coverage.

"I see someone that is a multiple Grand Slam champion, maybe five, six slams. I definitely see more than two. It will depend on the injuries.

"But if she stays healthy, definitely. I see her dominating together with Iga Swiatek over the next five to eight years, no doubt about. I actually think she's even getting better. I think her game she has things to work on and is still working on, but her weapons are so well produced."

Rybakina and Sabalenka will face off in the final on Saturday night.

Tomorrow, the men's semi-finals will be played with Stefanos Tsitsipas playing Karen Khachanov in the afternoon before Novak Djokovic and Tommy Paul play off in the evening.