Elena Rybakina v Victoria Azarenka live stream | Australian Open Semi-Final preview

Jamie Shaw in Australian Open 26 Jan 2023

Victoria Azarenka celebrates (Photo credit: REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/Alamy Stock)

Elena Rybakina and two-time champion Victoria Azarenka go head-to-head on Thursday for a place in the 2023 Australian Open final.

Azarenka has rolled back the years by powering her way into the semis a decade on from winning this title for a second time.

The Belarusian ace has dropped only two sets en route to the Semi-Finals and is vying for a first grand slam final appearance since the 2020 US Open.

The 33-year-old, a former world number one, will be out to utilise her vast experience against an opponent ten years her junior.

Azarenka began her campaign in Melbourne by seeing off Sofia Kenin and Nadia Podoroska in straight sets, before defeating tenth seed Madison Keys in a deciding set and edging out Zhu Lin 6-4 in the third set of their Round of 16 tie.

She then swept aside Jessica Pegula for the combined loss of just five games to continue her love affair with this hard court competition.

Rybakina, meanwhile, has dropped just one set in reaching the Semi-Finals here for the first time in what is her fourth appearance in the main draw.

The Kazakh is bidding for a second major title inside 12 months, having opened her account at Wimbledon last summer, and will be determined to remain on course to become the latest new name on this trophy.

The number 22 seed eased past Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Kaja Juvan in straight sets, before dispatching Danielle Collins in a deciding set and sensationally dumping out top seed Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-4.

Rybakina produced another dominant display to see off 17th seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-4 in the Quarter-Finals and is now looking to replicate her win over Azarenka at Indian Wells last year – their only previous meeting to date.

The match gets under way from approximately 8.30am GMT and will be available to watch live online via the link below.

Either fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka or Poland’s Madga Linette will await the winner in Saturday’s final.

How to watch Rybakina v Azarenka live stream

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1) Go to Bet365.com via this special link

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3) Once registered, go to the sports homepage and select ‘Tennis’ from the left-hand menu

4) Select the play icon next to the match in progress and the stream window will appear

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