Can anyone stop Aryna Sabalenka's pursuit of a third Australian Open crown?

We'll turn our attention to the second women's semi-final between Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula very shortly.

But first, let's hear what the world number one had to say after booking her place in Saturday's final.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Aryna Sabalenka has become just the third player in the Open era to reach four consecutive women’s singles finals at the Australian Open, after Evonne Goolagong and Martina Hingis.

Only Goolagong and Steffi Graf (four each) have reached more women's singles finals at the Australian Open in the Open era without dropping a set than Sabalenka (three).

She is also just the third women's player in the Open era to reach seven consecutive singles finals at hard court Grand Slams, after Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis.

There's no sign of Elina Svitolina producing a dramatic comeback here.

A couple of misses from the Ukrainian leave Aryna Sabalenka two points from victory, and the world number one produces a superb serve down the middle for two match points.

That forehand to save break point in the previous game was Aryna Sabalenka's 27th winner of the match.

That's almost double the number of unforced errors she has produced so far (14).

Not much Elina Svitolina can do about this.

The outcome now feels very much inevitable, but the Ukrainian does force Sabalenka to try to serve out the match by ending a five-game run against her.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Normally when you watch Svitolina she is so in your face, fighting, digging. She walks tall and fast around the court. Today, she has got this resigned look about her.

It is the opposite of Sabalenka.

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What a hit!

Aryna Sabalenka nails a brutal forehand perfectly into the back corner of Elina Svitolina's court to rescue the break point.

The Belarusian serves her way to safety to move just one game away from Saturday's final!

The crowd are encouraging Elina Svitolina to fight back and cheer as the 12th seed battles her way to 0-30.

Aryna Sabalenka is able to restore parity - but Svitolina takes on a return early to give herself a chance to break back.

Oh no! Elina Svitolina double-faults to gift Aryna Sabalenka a break point.

The world number one takes full advantage, driving in a backhand to make it four games on the bounce and put herself firmly on course for a fourth consecutive Australian Open final.

Frustration for Elina Svitolina as she overhits from the baseline to allow Aryna Sabalenka to reach 30-30, but the world number one fails to punish her with a loose forehand.

The pair then exchange a series of huge groundstrokes, and it's Svitolina who blinks first. Deuce.

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In the blink of an eye that's a third straight game for Aryna Sabalenka, who holds serve to love to flip the set in her favour.

Really important game coming up for Elina Svitolina now to halt Sabalenka's progress as a place in the final begins to come into view.

With a ferocious backhand and an almighty roar, Aryna Sabalenka levels up the second set.

She's reset quite impressively after making a slow start in both sets.

Elina Svitolina needs to maintain her momentum after a promising start to this set, but Aryna Sabalenka appears to have refocused here and is searching for a quick reply.

The world number one backs Svitolina into a couple of errors for two break back points.

Aryna Sabalenka steadies herself by responding with a love hold of her own to get on the board in the second set.

But the world number one is going to have to play catch up now.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I am waiting for Elina Svitolina's body language to lighten up a bit. She looked like she played with a cloud over her head in the first set.

Image source, Getty Images

Momentum shift at the start of set two.

The crowd are getting right behind Elina Svitolina as the 12th seed backs up her first breakthrough with an encouraging hold of serve to love as a final backhand catches the top of the net and drops over.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Sabalenka's first serve percentage was very high at 70%. On her second serve she won 75% of her points.

Svitolina had seven winners, Sabalenka had almost three times that at 19. That is a huge difference.

'Sprints' is a new thing they do - Svitolina had 17 of them, it was just one for Sabalenka.

This was always going to be an uphill struggle for Elina Svitolina if Aryna Sabalenka brought her A-game.

She will have been hoping to capitalise on any dip in the world number one's level, and here is an opportunity to do so...

The Ukrainian hadn't been able to create a break point since the opening game but gets one right at the start of the second... and a couple of unforced errors from Sabalenka gifts it to her!

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It's breathtaking shot-making from Sabalenka, and it is so nonchalant as well.

I don't even think she has played her best tennis but it is still quite a convincing scoreline. It has included some errors and missed returns of serves but she is still stamping her authority.

Image source, Getty Images

Elina Svitolina saves set points one and two, but not the third.

Aryna Sabalenka finishes the opener off in style with a devastating backhand - her 19th winner in the first eight games.