Elena Rybakina produced a commanding performance to defeat top seed Iga Swiatek and secure her place in the Australian Open semi-finals. The 2022 Wimbledon champion triumphed with a scoreline of 7-5, 6-1, extending her remarkable winning streak against top-ten opponents.
Rybakina's Dominant Display Ends Swiatek's Melbourne Dream
The match represented a significant hurdle for Swiatek, who needed the Australian Open title to complete her career Grand Slam. However, Rybakina's formidable serve and aggressive baseline play proved too much for the Polish world number one to handle.
Despite Swiatek entering the tournament as the higher seed, Rybakina arrived in Melbourne with considerable momentum, having claimed the WTA Finals trophy at the end of the previous season. The Kazakhstani player has yet to drop a set throughout this year's tournament, demonstrating her current peak form.
Key Moments and Statistical Superiority
Rybakina's serve proved decisive, with the fifth seed firing 11 aces during the match. After a closely contested first set where both players exchanged breaks, Rybakina's improved first-serve percentage in the second set allowed her to dominate proceedings completely.
"I'm really happy with the win, and happy that it was in straight sets," Rybakina commented afterwards. "I was a bit struggling in the first set with the serve but, overall, happy that I managed to win in two."
The victory marks Rybakina's eighth consecutive win against top-ten opposition, a statistic that underscores her current status as one of the most dangerous players on tour.
Swiatek's Post-Match Reflection
For Swiatek, this defeat follows earlier losses to Coco Gauff and Belinda Bencic at the United Cup, raising questions about her current form against elite competition. The 24-year-old has now won just one of her last seven meetings with top-ten rivals.
"I'm not happy with the result," Swiatek admitted. "It was a high-intensity match. First set was tight, a few points made the difference. In the second set, for sure, she improved the serve. She was going for the shots, and it got much tougher."
The Polish star indicated she would continue working on aspects of her game that needed improvement, stating there was "no breakthrough lesson" from the defeat.
Pegula Advances to Historic Semi-Final
In the other quarter-final, American Jessica Pegula continued her impressive tournament run with a 6-2, 7-6 (1) victory over compatriot Amanda Anisimova. This marks Pegula's first Australian Open semi-final appearance at age 31, emulating Elina Svitolina's achievement.
Pegula's steady progression in recent seasons represents one of the most compelling narratives in women's tennis. After finally winning a Grand Slam quarter-final at the 2024 US Open, she has now broken through that barrier in Melbourne.
The American fought back from 5-3 down in the second set against Anisimova, demonstrating resilience to secure victory in straight sets. Pegula maintains a perfect record against Anisimova, having now won all four of their professional meetings.
Semi-Final Showdown Approaches
Rybakina will now face Pegula for a place in the Australian Open final. The Kazakhstani player reached the championship match in 2023, where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka, and will be determined to go one step further this year.
"I think last season the last couple of tournaments I played I gained some confidence throughout tough matches," Rybakina explained regarding her current form. "Of course, this is something I tried to carry to this year. Still a lot of things to improve, to work on, but the most important is that I'm trying to stay aggressive whenever I get the chance."
Both semi-finalists enter the match with considerable momentum, setting the stage for what promises to be a compelling contest between two players in excellent form.
