Aryna Sabalenka, the unstoppable force, subduing Marie Bouzková to progress at Brisbane International

There comes an expectation when you are a two-time defending Australian Open champion.

An expectation of victory, for sure, but an expectation to stamp your authority on a match and your opponents.

Aryna Sabalenka did just that, beating Marie Bouzková in the Brisbane International quarterfinal comfortably enough, 6-3, 6-4.

But where there is an expectation that Sabalenka will dominate, Bouzková knew that she needed to fight fire with fire.

Bouzková had already accounted for two seeds in Brisbane, beating Jeļena Ostapenko and Victoria Azarenka in straight sets with a compelling blend of surgical stroke play and remarkable resilience in rallies.

She would need all of that in order to compete with the world number one.

If Sabalenka didn't know already, she quickly realised that she needed to be on here, to raise her game to meet that of her rival.

That's what happens when you're number one. People raise themselves to meet you. It's up to you to meet them head on.

The first game lasted a gruelling eight minutes, in which Bouzková stunningly broke serve.

Aryna Sabalenka roars her groundstrokes over the net. (AP Photo: Pat Hoelscher)

The second lasted a round 10 minutes in which Sabalenka broke back.

Welcome to the grind.

On a relatively cool night — the temperature read 24 degrees at the start of the match — both women were calling for their towel to sop away their excesses from drenched arms and faces within the opening few exchanges.

Sabalenka fired up in the second game, screaming "let's go!" when completing a stupendous passing shot.

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Bouzková gives off a far less dominant personality on court, her hair tied back, white bandana tied around her head, her groundstrokes almost apologetic compared to Sabalenka's bludgeoning efforts.

As Sabalenka roared with her groundstrokes, Bouzková simply exclaimed with the effort of reaching the ball.

Even at that early stage who came out on top of this offensive battery seemed crucial.

How long could the relatively slight 26-year-old from Prague hold out against such overwhelming power?

It was inevitable that after that fully-pitched opening salvo, the action cooled slightly. Regulation holds of serve suggested a truce of sorts.

Sabalenka though, would not be denied for long.

The world number one's stunning power undid Bouzková in the sixth game as Sabalenka simply battered the world number 44 into submission from the baseline.

Despite falling behind, Bouzková's defensive play remained outstanding, her footwork and pace around the court a constant foil to Sabalenka's robust strength of will.

Marie Bouzková did not give up on a single point, despite Aryna Sabalenka hitting a whopping 44 winners. (Getty Images: Chris Hyde)

"Her movement is really great," Sabalenka said after the match.

"She's fighting for every point, trying to get to every ball to make you play an extra shot.

"And that's really difficult because no matter how good your shot is, you have to play an extra ball.

"It's really difficult against her all the time and I'm really happy to get this win in straight sets."

The world number 44's consistency was also super impressive — she made just four unforced errors across the entire night.

Despite all that though, it appeared her resistance was steadily being eroded, her shield being ever-more dented as it absorbed simply too much punishment.

The tenacious Czech kept on coming though, swarming around the back-court to return the forceful blows heading in her direction.

But how could it ever be enough?

Sabalenka wrapped up the first set in 50 minutes with a mighty roar.

As the rain hammered down on the Pat Rafter Arena roof, scattering those in the exposed upper rows, Sabalenka continued to pile the pressure on Bouzková's serve.

After a mighty effort to hold first up, Sabalenka broke in the subsequent one, taking a control she would never relinquish.

Overall, the two-time defending Australian Open champion hit an astonishing 44 winners across the one-hour, 44-minute encounter, a brutal reminder of her power to those that await.

Bouzková, in contrast, hit 13.

Granted, such numbers provoke a desire to describe Sabalenka's style as like performing stonemasonry with a cannon.

But in truth there were flashes of absolute delight from the 26-year-old Belarusian.

Her explosive power generally lends itself to such coarse analogies, but occasionally she loads chisels from her arsenal instead of rockets such is the accuracy and deftness of her touch.

Such shots elicited without fail a smile from the world number one towards her appreciative player box, a statement that she is no one-trick pony.

She even pulled a tweener from out of her locker late in the second set, but then tossed her racquet on the ground as if disgusted by such frivolity when Bouzková won the point.

Aryna Sabalenka powered her forehands from the baseline. (Getty Images: Chris Hyde)

Sabalenka has now won 25 of the 26 matches she has played since the beginning of the 2023 season.

No wonder she describes it as being like playing at home.

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Next up though is number eight seed Mirra Andreeva, the world number 16 who beat her in three sets at the French Open quarterfinal stage.

Prior to that upset, Andreeva had only taken nine games off Sabalenka in their previous two meetings.

Andreeva, the 17-year-old from central Russia, beat Ons Jabeur 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) earlier on Friday.

"We've had great battles in the past," Sabalenka said.

"It's going to be a great battle against her."

The pair also played doubles in the World Tennis League together, coming back from 0-5 to beat Caroline Garcia and Elena Rybakina and then having to cut short a television interview due to fits of laughter between the pair.

How much laughter there will be on Saturday in the semifinal, one can already guess.

But if Sabalenka's form continues, expect that wry smile to continue to burn.

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