In the first semifinal on Saturday, seventh seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan charged past world No.105 Misaki Doi of Japan 6-4 6-3 to advance to her eighth career WTA final.
Currently ranked at a career-high No.14, Rybakina considers her serve crucial for her Saturday’s semifinal victory, especially in the end of the first set and in the second set. So far in Adelaide, the 22-year-old has hit 31 aces, while last year she was ranked fourth on Tour for aces struck (301) and sixth for service games won (74%).
Rybakina’s obstacle on the way to her third WTA title will be Australia’s own Ashleigh Barty, who ended the Adelaide winning streak of defending champion Iga Swiatek with a 6-2 6-4 win in the second semifinal.