Sabalenka has loved serene progress in Melbourne up to now and has additionally seen a few of her title rivals exit early.
World primary Swiatek’s first two matches have saved her on courtroom for greater than 5 hours, with the Pole having to come back again from the brink in opposition to Danielle Collins within the second spherical.
Third seed Elena Rybakina, who Sabalenka beat in final yr’s last, was crushed in a record-breaking tie-break within the second spherical, whereas fifth seed Jessica Pegula additionally misplaced on Thursday.
Sabalenka, in contrast, has spent slightly below three hours on courtroom and has but to be actually examined.
She reached the semi-finals of all 4 majors final yr however says she is in even higher kind this yr, saying in her on-court interview that “Aryna 2024” would beat the Sabalenka of final season.
“I feel right now’s efficiency was perfection,” she mentioned. “There may be at all times one thing to enhance, you already know.
“You simply cannot be pleased with the extent you might be at proper now so that you at all times must maintain shifting, maintain enhancing.”
She might face a harder check in opposition to Anisimova, who’s enjoying her first main since taking a seven-month break for her psychological well being, and beat former world quantity two Paula Badosa 7-5 6-4.
Sabalenka might probably meet Gauff, who beat her within the New York last final yr, within the semi-finals.
Gauff has additionally but to drop a set at this yr’s event and was equally dominant in opposition to American compatriot Parks on Friday.
She is going to face Poland’s Magdalena Frech, who beat Russian qualifier Anastasia Zakharova in three units, whereas Sabalenka will play Amanda Anisimova.
