Belarus' Sabalenka, 25, had been attempting to claim a rare third successive victory at the opening major of the season.

Aryna Sabalenka will aim to become the first woman in 26 years to win three successive Australian Open titles when she meets Madison Keys in Saturday's final.

The defending champions have gone five games unbeaten in the league, winning three of them, but after facing Chelsea on Saturday they play Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool in successive weeks.

The three-time major winner settled herself with a hold to go 3-2 up, claimed a crucial break for a 5-3 lead before serving out a 19th successive victory at Melbourne Park.

It was more of a stumbling, rather than sailing through these successive crises, but the EU is still standing and the wounds of Brexit, for example, have healed with time.