World number one Aryna Sabalenka has revealed that a highly controversial umpire's decision, which penalised her for an unusual grunt, served as a powerful catalyst during her commanding Australian Open semi-final triumph over Elina Svitolina. The Belarusian powerhouse secured her place in a fourth consecutive Melbourne final with a decisive 6-2, 6-3 victory, but the match was ignited by a bizarre early incident that left players, commentators, and fans alike perplexed.
Controversial Call Sparks Outrage and Momentum
The flashpoint occurred at 2-1 in the opening set. During a rally, Sabalenka mishit a groundstroke, producing a distinct vocalisation as the ball left her racket. Chair umpire Louise Azemar Engzell immediately intervened, calling "Stop. Hindrance" and awarding the point to Svitolina. The ruling left Sabalenka visibly stunned, prompting a lengthy discussion where she requested a video review and questioned the official's judgement.
Broadcast commentators on TNT Sports were equally baffled, analysing that the umpire had interpreted Sabalenka's different-sounding grunt—a reaction to her own poor shot—as a deliberate hindrance. The umpire explained to Sabalenka that she "did not make the normal sound," a justification that did little to clarify the application of the International Tennis Federation's hindrance rule, which typically concerns deliberate acts.
Sabalenka's Fiery Reaction Fuels Victory Charge
Reflecting on the moment post-match, Sabalenka admitted the call had profoundly angered her, but she credited that very emotion for sharpening her focus and aggression. "She really p***ed me off," Sabalenka stated candidly. "It actually helped me and it actually benefited my game. I was more aggressive and I was not happy with the call and it really helped me to get that game."
Indeed, after the controversial point, Sabalenka immediately broke Svitolina's serve to go 3-1 up, seizing control of the first set. She even joked about the incident's motivational effect, laughing: "So if she ever wants to do it again... I want to make sure she's not afraid of doing it, go hard. Call it. It's going to help me."
Dominant Performance Seals Historic Final Berth
Despite a brief resurgence from Svitolina at the start of the second set, where the Ukrainian broke to lead 2-0, Sabalenka's ignited determination proved unstoppable. She swiftly broke back twice, saving a crucial break point at 4-2, and closed out the match with characteristic power, firing 29 winners past her opponent.
This flawless performance, without dropping a set throughout the tournament, cements Sabalenka's place in history. She becomes only the third woman in the Open era, after Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Martina Hingis, to reach four consecutive Australian Open singles finals.
An emotional Sabalenka acknowledged the achievement in her on-court interview, stating, "It's an incredible achievement but the job's not done yet." She praised Svitolina's level, saying, "I felt like I had to step in and put as much pressure as I could back on her. I'm glad the level was there. I think I played great tennis."
Sabalenka now prepares for a thrilling final showdown against world number five Elena Rybakina, who overcame Jessica Pegula in a tough three-set battle. The controversial grunt call, while debated, ultimately provided the spark that propelled the top seed one step closer to the title.
