India, Jan. 30 -- Aryna Sabalenka took a few measured steps forward, racquet cocked behind her body. Once the ball sat up to a comfortable height, she hit a hard forehand for a cross-court winner.

A few hours later on Thursday, on the same court at the Rod Laver Arena, Elena Rybakina took a quick split-step to come inside the baseline. She pulled her racquet behind her, loading for a backhand. When the ball came into her striking zone, she hammered a two-hander down-the-line for a winner.

In those two strokes, two of the hardest-hitters on the women's tennis secured their spots in the final of the Australian Open.

Sabalenka, the world No.1 took 76 minutes to earn a 6-2, 6-3 win over Elina Svitolina. Meanwhile, world No.5 Rybakina beat ...