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Aryna Sabalenka called out the chair umpire for giving her a hindrance call early in her Australian Open semi-final clash with Elina Svitolina. The world No. 1 asked for a video review after Louise Azemar Engzell made the call. But the umpire stood by her decision, explaining that Sabalenka's extended grunt affected Svitolina's ability to hit the return.

Two-time former champion Sabalenka wasn't happy, but she channelled that energy into the match and broke Svitolina in that game, going on to win in 76 minutes. And the top seed later hit out at Engzell's decision - though admitted it also helped her.

"Oh, that's actually never happened to me. Like, never happened to me, especially with my grunting, that it's, like - I don't know. It's, like, it's so off I think, and the way that, I don't know, excel, it's just because of - I don't know. I don't know how to explain it," Sabalenka said.

"It's just like the ball was deep. The ball was, like, the bounce was wrong, and it was just like the timing. I was excelling, and it just happened naturally. Then she called it, and I was, like, What? What is wrong with you?"

It gave Sabalenka some extra motivation, and she got the first of four breaks of the Svitolina serve. "I mean, I think it was the wrong call, but whatever. She really - how do I say in a nice way? She really p***ed me off, and it's actually help me and benefit my game," the four-time Grand Slam champion smiled.

"I was more aggressive. I was not happy with the call, and it really helped me to get that game. So if she ever wants to do it again, like, I want to make sure that she's not afraid of it. Go ahead, call it. It's going to help me."

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