Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Polina Kudermetova of Russia each recorded a straight-set win on Saturday to advance to the finals of the Brisbane International in Australia.
Sabalenka saved five break points in the opening set and finished with three aces en route to a 6-3, 6-2 win over eighth-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia. Sabalenka dispatched Andreeva in 89 minutes at the season-opening WTA 500 event.
The win served as a form of revenge for the two-time Australian Open champion, who was upended by the 17-year-old Andreeva in the French Open quarterfinals seven months ago.
Kudermetova fired six aces and overcame seven double faults in a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina in 85 minutes.
ASB Classic
Seventh seed Naomi Osaka of Japan and fifth-seeded Clara Tauson of Denmark will meet in the final in Auckland, New Zealand.
Osaka fired five aces in a 6-4, 6-2 win over Alycia Parks in 71 minutes to advance to her first final since facing Iga Swiatek in Miami in 2022. Osaka is bidding for her first title since capturing her fourth Grand Slam at the 2021 Australian Open.
Parks advanced to face Osaka after posting a 6-1, 6-4 victory over No. 8 seed Katie Volynets to complete a rain-delayed match.
Tauson also played two matches on Saturday. She wrapped up a 6-4, 7-6 (7) upset of top-seeded Madison Keys before securing a 6-4, 6-3 win over Robin Montgomery.
–Field Level Media
