Urgent:Aryna Sabalenka Rushed to the hospital in a critical condition

The world number one is attempting to become the first woman since Martina Hingis 26 years ago to complete a ‘three-peat’ at the hard-court Grand Slam. After racing through the first set, Sabalanka’s title hopes were left hanging by a thread as Pavlyuchenkova swept up the second and broke early in the decider.

Sabalenka stated, “I was all over the place. I am really delighted that at some time I was able to pull myself back together.” “I think it is good to have these tough matches and be tougher in the later stages of the game,” she remarked.

Since the 2023 final, when she rallied to defeat Elena Rybakina and win her first major singles title, Sabalenka has not lost a set at the Australian Open. After the Spaniard shocked third seed Coco Gauff earlier on Tuesday, the top seed declared she “can not wait” to play her friend Paula Badosa in the round of four.

The 26-year-old said the tiger tattoo on her forearm serves as a “reminder of never giving up, staying aggressive, staying hungry and pushing myself no matter what is going on in life.” Sabalenka, who has advanced to the semi-finals in eight of her previous nine Grand Slam appearances, joked afterwards that she would make her team get tiger tattoos if she won the Melbourne title.