Tennis-Azarenka up for the challenge as Sabalenka seeks calm

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2023 Belarus' Victoria Azarenka celebrates winning her quarter final match against Jessica Pegula of the U.S. REUTERS/Carl Recine

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - An Australian Open women's draw that has defied prediction gets down to business in the semi-finals on Thursday with Victoria Azarenka on the cusp of a remarkable revival and her compatriot Aryna Sabalenka the only remaining top-20 seed.

Although Sabalenka and Magda Linette of Poland will be playing in their first semi-finals at Melbourne Park, Azarenka returns to final-four action after a decade away when she takes on Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.