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Aryna v Elena set for epic tussle

- BY YASMIN SYED

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.

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

Kazakhstan's 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 the Belarusian will feel she holds the advantage here having won a tough three-setter against her rival in the 2023 final to clinch her first Slam title.