The three-peat remains alive, but only just.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka dropped a set for just the second time in three years at Melbourne Park on Tuesday evening, pushed hard by the power of 27th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who twice led by a break in the deciding set.
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But as she has done so often in recent years, the world No.1 came good when she needed to, her 6-2 2-6 6-3 victory setting up a semifinal against Paula Badosa, who upset Coco Gauff earlier in the day.
“Honestly I was just praying, trying to put the ball back in the court in these tough conditions,” said Sabalenka, who found a strong breeze tough to cope with at times.
“It was very difficult to play. She played amazing tennis, very aggressive, I’m just super happy I was somehow magically able to win this match.”
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Outplayed in the first set, Pavlyuchenkova was the better player for the next set and a half, taking the attack to Sabalenka, upping the pace by 10km/h on her forehand and denying the two-time champion time.
But just when she had the match in her grasp, she retreated into her shell and Sabalenka took her chance, breaking back for 2-2 and then snatching another break in the eighth game before serving out the match.
“Sometimes it’s maybe good to have these tough battles, to go through it, to be tougher for the last stages of the tournament,” Sabalenka said.
“I wish I could win this match in straight sets, but I’m happy to be through.”
It looked like Sabalenka was set for an easy win when she eased through the first set, keeping Pavlyuchenkova pinned behind the baseline with the power of her returns and precision of her groundstrokes.
A double-fault at 1-2 unsettled Pavlyuchenkova and Sabalenka immediately sensed her opportunity, breaking and extending her lead to 4-1 after a tough service game. Pavlyuchenkova stayed in touch with a hold of serve but at 5-2, Sabalenka broke for a second time with a stunning forehand on the run to seal the opening set after 31 minutes.
Sabalenka had won 21 of her past 22 matches at Grand Slams when winning the first set but Pavlyuchenkova forced an early opportunity to break in the second set, as Sabalenka netted a backhand. And when the Russian ripped a forehand down the line for a winner, she had the early break at 2-1.
Suddenly it was all Pavlyuchenkova, the 33-year-old blasting winners off returns, on both sides, leaving Sabalenka chasing shadows. A second break was the insurance she needed and though Sabalenka broke back for 4-2, Pavlyuchenkova snatched another break and then served out to love to level the match.
Sabalenka looked rattled, taking a bathroom break to gather her thoughts but Pavlyuchenkova continued to fire winners, breaking in the opening game. Sabalenka broke back for 1-1 but a brilliant forehand return from Pavlyuchenkova gave her another break and put her in front at 2-1.
But the match turned on a poor service game by Pavlyuchenkova as she was broken to love and from then on, Sabalenka regained her composure. A double fault at the start of the eighth game put Pavlyuchenkova on the back foot and Sabalenka sensed her chance, breaking for 5-3.
With the pressure on her shoulders, she made no mistake, serving out comfortably to reach the last four again and staying on track to become the first woman to win the Australian Open title three years in a row since Martina Hingis in 1999.