CLASH OF THE TITANS

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

- BY YASMIN SYED in Melbourne

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

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

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

Neither woman has dropped a set on their way to the 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."

Sabalenka and Rybakina are both big hitters, and there will be little separating them.