SIMPLY THE BEST

ARYNA SABALENKA and Elena Rybakina will battle for the Australian Open crown - and the bragging rights of being the most in-form player on the women's tour.

- FROM YASMIN SYED in MELBOURNE

World No.1 Sabalenka has now reached seven straight hard-court Grand Slam finals, and four in a row at Melbourne Park.

Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, has won 19 of her last 20 matches and beat Sabalenka 6-3 7-6 to win the WTA Finals two months ago.

But Sabalenka won a tough three-setter against Rybakina in the 2023 final here, winning her first Slam title.

Neither woman has dropped a set on their way to the Aussie Open final - and former doubles No.1 and Davis Cup winner Jamie Murray told TNT Sports: "For me, it is probably the two best players in the world going against each other.

"I think it depends on who executes best and who serves and gets that ball in play."