Sabalenka, who was set to face American Emina Bektas, was replaced in the draw by Russian Erika Andreeva, while fellow Belarusian Azarenka's spot was taken up by another lucky loser in Frenchwoman Elsa Jacquemot.
Sloane Stephens, Kim Clijsters, Hyeon Chung among others were made acquainted with snakes and crocs of a varied variety, and kissed and cuddled Koala bears on Wednesday.
Images from Sunday's action at the Australian Open, in Melbourne.
A calm Sloane Stephens picked her shots to perfection to overcome Japan's Naomi Osaka in a battle between the last two US Open champions at the WTA Finals on Monday before top seed Angelique Kerber was upset by Kiki Bertens.
Coco Gauff became the first American to win a US Open singles title since Sloane Stephens in 2017.
After losing the first set, Konta faced three break points in an epic fifth game of the second when she came under enormous pressure.
Kevin Anderson spoiled the American party at the US Open when the big-serving South African beat local favourite Sam Querrey 7-6(5), 6-7(9), 6-3, 7-6(7) to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final on Tuesday.
'Your results or your job or how much money you make doesn't define you as a person. As long as you love yourself, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.'
Good things come to those who wait as the saying goes -- but Madison Keys's wait may have seemed interminable.
Third seed Andrey Rublev suffered a first round exit after his Qatar Open title, losing to qualifier Quentin Halys 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) at the Dubai Open on Tuesday.
Defending champion Sloane Stephens was sent packing from the Miami Open on Sunday after a 6-3, 6-2 loss to Germany's Tatjana Maria in the third round.
American Stephens stayed calm and saw off an increasingly agitated Angelique Kerber in the winner-takes-all night match to complete round-robin play with a spotless 3-0 record after she wrapped up a 6-3, 6-3 victory against the German.
Madison Keys, 29, is the fourth-oldest first-time Grand Slam champion in the professional era.
Aryna Sabalenka will battle American 19th seed Madison Keys in the final on Saturday looking to become the first woman since Martina Hingis from 1997-99 to win the Australian Open title three times in a row.
With next week's Australian Open in mind, a weary Venus Williams has opted to skip the Hobart International while her American compatriot Sloane Stephens has pulled out of the Sydney International with a minor wrist injury.
Five singles matches were cancelled as persistent rain washed out a large chunk of play on the opening day of the Australian Open on Sunday, disappointing the large crowds that flocked to Melbourne Park.
The popular Romanian, who had lost three major finals before Saturday, showed signs of nerves at first but recovered to outclass her 10th-seeded opponent.
Factbox on Romanian Simona Halep, who beat Sloane Stephens 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 to win the French Open title on Saturday:
"Sloane is truly one of my favourite people and to get to play her was really special," said Keys.
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and Madison Keys made rocky starts on Thursday but eventually secured contrasting victories to set up a heavy metal Australian Open final showdown
Agnieszka Radwanska continued her pre-Wimbledon tune-up by reaching the final of Eastbourne grasscourt tournament with a 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-2 win over America's Sloane Stephens on Friday.
Novak Djokovic begins his hunt for a fifth Flushing Meadows crown when he meets Moldovan Radu Albot
Venus Williams rejected the suggestion she might be content to serve as an inspiration to younger players after her 6-1, 0-6, 7-5 defeat to fellow American Sloane Stephens in the semi-finals.
Petra Kvitova, who missed part of the 2017 season after a home invasion left her with a badly cut left hand, continues her remarkable comeback when she faces American Venus Williams.
Nadal produced a rich vein of form as he thrashed Greek teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets to clinch his fourth Canadian Masters 1000 title at the Rogers Cup
Coco Gauff, who shared an emotional on-court interview with Osaka after falling to her at the 2019 US Open, echoed Stephens's comments.
IMAGES from Day 9 of the US Open matches played on Tuesday
Second seed Sloane Stephens was shocked 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 by Germany's Andrea Petkovic in the second round of the Citi Open on Wednesday, disrupting the American's buildup to her US Open title defence.
Jo Konta cantered into the semi-finals of the French Open on Tuesday
IMAGES from the Miami Masters played in Key Biscayne, Florida on Tuesday
IMAGES from Day 10 of the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on Tuesday.
Stephens sees success of Black women inspiring new generation.
Rafael Nadal reclaimed top spot in the men's ATP rankings on Monday
Keys and Stephens to put friendship to grand slam test
Halep had clinched the French Open in 2018 after defeating American Sloane Stephens in the final.
Venus Williams will take on compatriot Sloane Stephens in one semi-final before her fellow Americans Madison Keys battles it out with CoCo Vandeweghe in the other in all-American semi-final in the women's singles at the US Open.
Croatian Cilic, who lost last year's final to Roger Federer, underlined his credentials for another Grand Slam title bid to add to his U.S. Open triumph in 2014.
Sloane Stephens said she is ready to turn the page on a disappointing 2019 and shift her focus to climbing the world tennis rankings to qualify for next year's Tokyo Olympics.
IMAGES from matches on Day 8 at the French Open
Coco Gauff, 18, is the youngest finalist at Roland Garros since Kim Clijsters in 2001.
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