aryna sabalenka

BRISBANE, Australia — This rematch between the Australian Open finalists was lopsided and Aryna Sabalenka flipped the outcome with a straight-sets win over Madison Keys.

Top-ranked Sabalenka broke Keys’ in five straight service games on the way to a 6-3, 6-3 win in 1 1/2 hours Friday to reach the semifinals of the Brisbane International, an important tuneup event for the Australian Open which begins Jan. 18.

“Super happy to get through this difficult match,” Sabalenka said. “I didn’t...