World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the Brisbane International semifinals after a 6-3, 6-3 victory over fifth-seeded Madison Keys on Friday, Jan. 9. The performance marked a dominant display from the defending champion, who continues to build momentum ahead of the Australian Open.
Sabalenka is now set to face Karolína Muchová in the final four, a matchup that carries significant implications for her title defense bid at Queensland.
Aryna Sabalenka Advances to Brisbane Semifinals After Beating Madison Keys
Sabalenka secured a commanding straight-sets victory over Keys in 90 minutes in a rematch of the 2025 Australian Open final at Pat Rafter Arena. Keys, who defeated the Belarusian to claim her maiden Australian Open crown in Melbourne, could not replicate that form on this occasion, as Sabalenka dominated from the start.
The fifth-seeded American entered the quarterfinal fresh off an intense three-set, three-hour battle against Diana Shnaider, but was unable to match the firepower of the world No. 1. Sabalenka’s victory improved her head-to-head record against Keys to 6-2 and extended her remarkable winning streak in Australia to 36 wins from 38 matches since 2023, during which she captured 2023 and 2024 Australian Open, and 2025 Brisbane International.
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Sabalenka d. Keys 6-3 6-3
In a rematch of the 2025 AO Final, Aryna comes through
She gets her 8th consecutive win in Brisbane
She’s now won 36 of last 38 matches in Australia…
3rd Brisbane SF
3-0 in 2026It’s Aryna’s jungle & we’re just living in it
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 9, 2026
When asked about her upcoming semifinal clash with Muchová, a reporter brought up the Czech player’s recent success in their matchups, mentioning that she won their last three encounters.
“Well, I never focus on the past. Doesn’t matter if I’m the one who is leading head-to-head against the player or I’m the one who’s losing, I don’t care,” Sabalenka responded. “I just try to bring my best tennis, and I’m trying to do better, do better this time, and I’ll be out there tomorrow competing, fighting. Hopefully I’ll be able to get the win.”
Her comments reflected a straightforward approach to the challenge ahead, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the present moment rather than dwelling on previous results between the two players.
Sabalenka’s Title Defense Faces Major Threat Against Karolína Muchová
Sabalenka’s title defense faces a genuine challenge from Muchová, who has produced an impressive campaign at the Queensland Tennis Center. The Czech player reached the semifinals after securing consecutive victories over seeded opponents.
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In the round of 16, Muchová defeated seventh-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 7-5 before taking on the world No. 5 Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals. Muchová’s 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 victory over the 2025 WTA Finals Champion marked a significant achievement, as the Czech snapped her 13-match winning streak. The match lasted just over two hours and marked Muchová’s first triumph over Rybakina since 2019.
The head-to-head record between Sabalenka and Muchová presents a concerning narrative for the defending champion. The Czech leads the numbers 3-1, having won each of their last three meetings dating back to 2023. Sabalenka’s sole victory came in 2019 in Zhuhai, meaning she has not defeated Muchová in nearly six years.
With such a streak working in Muchová’s favor, the semifinal shapes up as a competitive clash, given the Czech’s dominance through the tournament.
