On the eve of Australian Open 2021, Melbourne Park will play host to several finals featuring some of the biggest names in the sport on Sunday.
MORE: Melbourne Summer Series wrap: Muguruza goes into overdrive
Here is what you need to know heading into the final day of action at the Melbourne Summer Series.
Barty v Muguruza in blockbuster final
World No.1 Ash Barty will play for her second WTA title on home soil against Garbine Muguruza in the final of the Yarra Valley Classic on Sunday.
Barty, playing her first tournament in 11 months, won three matches this week before semifinal opponent Serena Williams withdrew citing a shoulder injury, giving the Aussie a walkover into the final. There, she will meet last year’s AO finalist Muguruza, who has been in rampant form this week; the Spaniard has conceded a total of just 10 games in four wins.
The WTA Gippsland Trophy final will follow that match on MCA, with Elise Mertens – who progressed to the title match when Naomi Osaka withdrew – facing Kaia Kanepi, who extended her winning streak to 14 with a straight-sets victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova on Saturday.
ATP Cup final: Russia v Italy
Beginning 10am at RLA, the second edition of the ATP Cup promises to come to an entertaining conclusion given the form of the four singles players taking to the court.
Red-hot Andrey Rublev, the world No.8 who has won 24 of his past 28 matches, faces the flair of Fabio Fognini, who has won his past two matches at the teams competition this week. That singles clash precedes a meeting between Daniil Medvedev – a player on a 13-match winning streak – and Matteo Berrettini, the world No.10 who is undefeated in singles and doubles this week.
Should the singles rubbers be split, the tie would be determined by a live doubles match pitting Russian duo Evgeny Donskoy and Aslan Karatsev against the Italian pairing of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori.
Auger-Aliassime, Evans eye first ATP title
The Murray River Open is set to conclude on an emotional note when either Felix Auger-Aliassime or Dan Evans walk away with their first career ATP title.
It would be a significant breakthrough for the talented 20-year-old Auger-Aliassime, who has already advanced to six ATP finals – only to lose them all. And it would be a milestone for Evans, the 30-year-old Brit who turned pro back in 2006; having been ranked as high as No.28, he has fallen in both his previous appearances in finals, at Sydney in 2017 and Delray Beach in 2019.
Auger-Aliassime and Evans, meeting for the first time, will clash in the third and final match of the day at MCA.
Sinner’s streak to continue?
Italian teenager Jannik Sinner will play for his second straight ATP title in the final of the Great Ocean Road Open on Sunday.
The 19-year-old, who won the first title of his career in Sofia to close his 2020 season, extended his winning streak to nine with a three-set defeat of second seed Karen Khachanov, ending in a final-set tiebreak.
It sets up a final against fellow Italian Stefano Travaglia, who beat Thiago Monteiro in straight sets earlier on Saturday.
That final will take place on Court 3.