Magda Linette is one win away from the Australian Open final after stunning run at Melbourne Park
Ahead of this year’s Australian Open, commentators and fans tipped a Polish player to break through and win the tournament for the first time.
Most important points:
- Linette will play fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals
- In her previous visits to the Australian Open, she had never progressed beyond the third round
- The 30-year-old is the only unseeded player left in the women’s draw
Now, in the semifinals in Melbourne, a Polish player is still fighting for the women’s title, but it is not the most anticipated.
Polish world number one Iga Świątek was the favorite for the tournament, coming off a season in which she added a second French Open to her list and won the US Open for the first time.
But the three-time main champion exited the Australian Open in the fourth round, leaving unseeded Magda Linette as the only Pole remaining in the draw.
Linette, 45 in the world rankings, had never progressed past the third round of a major before arriving in Melbourne.
The 30-year-old’s track record at the Australian Open has been unremarkable, previously winning just three matches from six visits.
Linette has been a revelation these two weeks, knocking out three top-20 players – including world number four Caroline Garcia – en route to the quarter-finals.
She knocked out former world number one Karolína Plíšková in the last eight, causing a clash with fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka for a spot in the final.
In light of her modest record with the majors, Linette could be forgiven for being overwhelmed when she took on a player of the caliber of Belarusian Sabalenka.
“I’ve played against so many great players,” said Linette after her quarter-final victory.
“It’s just nothing new to me. Just another game.”
Coming back from hard times
Although Linette, who ranks 33rd in the world, described her victory over Plíšková as a “dream come true”, she is not surprised to have made it to the semi-finals.
She and her support team, including coach Mark Gellard, put in a ton of work during the 2022 season, even though the graft was not reflected in her results.
Linette said there were some “heavy losses” last year, but she knew she and her team were on “a really good track”.
“I think this is a huge reward, not only for me, but also for them, to see that they’re doing a really great job,” she said.
“It was really worth going through those difficult moments. It gives us all a boost because they also need the reward.”
The Linette-Sabalenka semifinal winner will meet two-time winner Victoria Azarenka or Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in Saturday night’s tournament decider.
