Sabalenka has loved serene progress in Melbourne to this point and has additionally seen a few of her title rivals exit early.
World primary Swiatek’s first two matches have saved her on court docket for greater than 5 hours, with the Pole having to come back again from the brink towards Danielle Collins within the second spherical.
Third seed Elena Rybakina, who Sabalenka beat in final 12 months’s ultimate, was overwhelmed in a record-breaking tie-break within the second spherical, whereas fifth seed Jessica Pegula additionally misplaced on Thursday.
Sabalenka, in contrast, has spent slightly below three hours on court docket and has but to be actually examined.
She reached the semi-finals of all 4 majors final 12 months however says she is in even higher type this 12 months, saying in her on-court interview that “Aryna 2024” would beat the Sabalenka of final season.
“I believe immediately’s efficiency was perfection,” she mentioned. “There’s all the time one thing to enhance, you recognize.
“You simply cannot be pleased with the extent you might be at proper now so that you all the time need to preserve transferring, preserve enhancing.”
She might face a harder take a look at towards Anisimova, who’s taking part in her first main since taking a seven-month break for her psychological well being, and beat former world quantity two Paula Badosa 7-5 6-4.
Sabalenka might doubtlessly meet Gauff, who beat her within the New York ultimate final 12 months, within the semi-finals.
Gauff has additionally but to drop a set at this 12 months’s match and was equally dominant towards American compatriot Parks on Friday.
She is going to face both Poland’s Magdalena Frech or Russian qualifier Anastasia Zakharova subsequent, whereas Sabalenka will play Amanda Anisimova.
