The top-ranked defending champ will face No. 2 Alexander Zverev in the championship after rallying to win the first set and oust the 22-year-old American

Defending champion Jannik Sinner continued his sizzling Australian Open run with a 7-6(2) 6-2 6-2 win over American 21st seed Ben Shelton to reach a second straight final at Melbourne Park and book a meeting with Alexander Zverev.

Sinner, the world No. 1 and defending champion, reached his second straight Australian Open final with a 7-6 (2), 6-2, 6-2 semifinal victory over No. 21 Ben Shelton, the Atlanta native. The Italian improved to 15-0 against Americans in majors.

Sabelenka will face 19th seed Madison Keys for the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, with the American having produced one of the shocks of the tournament to beat Iga Swiatek in a final-set tiebreak to secure a dramatic 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (10-8) victory.

The Madison Keys who will play two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka for the title at the Australian Open on Saturday night is not the same Madison Keys who was the runner-up at the U.S.

By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Double defending champion Aryna Sabalenka overwhelmed Paula Badosa 6-4 6-2 with a impressive display of raw power to reach her third successive Australian Open final on Thursday.