Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina are ready to pen chapter eight of their rivalry, recreating last year's Australian Open final by storming into the Brisbane International decider.
The blazing pair are top seeds and top-four mainstays, with Rybakina able to climb one spot to an equal-best No.3 if she wins, and Coco Gauff loses in the Auckland Classic final also on Sunday.
Belarusian Sabalenka, the world No.2, leads the head-to-head against Kazakhstan's 2022 Wimbledon champ Rybakina 5-2, with all her victories coming in three-set battles.
That includes a 4-6 6-3 6-4 triumph at Melbourne Park last year, the 25-year-old's maiden major title.
They've played three times since then, 24-year-old Rybakina winning two of those.
"We're both serving really well, both playing really super-aggressive tennis," Sabalenka said.
"I think that's why all the matches are pretty tight.
"We both put each other under so much pressure. That's why it makes our matches really, really great battles."
Kazakh Rybakina, who was ill before arriving in Australia, has surprised herself with the level of play that's seen her on court for less than four hours on the way to the final.
On current form, the pair are destined to clash at the pointy end in Melbourne later this month.
"Every tournament is a separate event," Sabalenka said.
"Like, it doesn't matter who wins that match, it's not a guarantee that you're going to win that match in the next tournament.
"Every tournament, it's a new story."
Grigor Dimitrov, the world No.14, will meet No.8 Holger Rune in the men's final.
The top seeds won tight straight-sets semi-finals, Dimitrov beating local hope Jordan Thompson and Rune downing Roman Safiullin, on Saturday.
It's Dimitrov's third Brisbane decider, the fit-again Bulgarian chasing his first trophy and ninth in total since winning the end-of-season ATP Finals in 2017.
He started that year with a Brisbane triumph and reached a career-high No.3 in the world before injuries set him back.
