Sabalenka was literally inches away from losing to Rybakina but she managed to find a way to completely overturn the situation.

The victory notably saw Sabalenka halt Rybakina’s 17-match win streak on clay courts and set up a 2023 final rematch with world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. Rybakina had dominated her Brisbane final with the world No. 2 at the start of the season, dropping just three games. It looked like more of the same would play out until nerves crept in.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka was two points from the loss but found a way to edge No.4 Elena Rybakina in a third-set tiebreak to advance to her third Mutua Madrid Open final.

There are two excellent WTA Madrid semifinals for fans to enjoy. Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina meet in a repeat of the 2023 Australian Open semifinal, while Iga Swiatek will seek to overcome the big-hitting Madison Keys.

In the Madrid quarterfinal. No. 4 seed Rybakina was 2-5 down in the third set and world No. 50 Putintseva also had two consecutive match points on the 2022 Wimbledon champion's serve. Just when it seemed that Rybakina had her back turned against the wall, she managed to save both match points and reduce the deficit to 3-5.

The Stuttgart champion won an eighth straight match of the clay-court season, saving two match points to outlast her countrywoman in a thrilling quarterfinal clash.

Fourth seed Elena Rybakina rallied from a set down to beat fellow Kazakhstani Yulia Putintseva 4-6 7-6(4) 7-5 in a two-hour and 48-minute battle as she advanced to her first Madrid Open semi-final on Wednesday.