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Second seed Swiatek is surprised by Rybakina in straight units whereas Pegula makes brief work of her compatriot Anisimova.
Printed On 28 Jan 2026
Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula will conflict within the semifinals of the Australian Open after knocking out pre-tournament favourites Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova respectively.
Reigning Wimbledon champion and second-seeded Swiatek, who was searching for a profession Grand Slam with a win at Melbourne Park, was surprised by Rybakina in straight units on Wednesday.
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The 7-5, 6-2 win for the 2022 Wimbledon champion provides her an opportunity to win her second Grand Slam, whereas crushing Swiatek’s goals of lifting the one Slam trophy that has eluded her regardless of six main titles.
Rybakina has made the Melbourne ultimate as soon as earlier than, in 2023 when she misplaced in three robust units to Aryna Sabalenka.
The 26-year-old fifth seed took her newest victory in her stride, saying a calmer mindset helped within the warmth of battle.
“To start with, when it’s the primary ultimate and also you go to this point in a event, after all you might be extra emotional,” mentioned Rybakina.
“Now I really feel like I’m simply doing my job, making an attempt to enhance every day. So it’s sort of one other day, one other match.”
Rybakina fired 11 aces and 26 winners at Rod Laver Enviornment, profitable eight of the final 9 video games to underline her authority.
“Actually happy with the win,” mentioned Rybakina. “We all know one another fairly effectively and I used to be simply making an attempt to remain aggressive.
Swiatek struggled along with her serve all through the competition and the world quantity two mentioned that was one thing she wanted to enhance on within the coming months.
“I didn’t function effectively as in Cincinnati, for instance, in opposition to Elena. My serve was sort of regular and typically it might have given me a bit extra,” Swiatek advised reporters.
“There’s some stuff on the serve that I wish to change and I already modified that within the pre-season. However then matches come and also you don’t have that a lot time to consider this.
“You don’t wish to take into consideration these particulars whenever you play. So then it comes again to the previous patterns… There’s some stuff that I can change to play higher and I’ll strive to try this.”
Pegula revels in ‘superior win’ over Anisimova
In the meantime, Pegula – recent off her win over final yr’s champion Madison Keys – emerged victorious in an all-American quarterfinal in opposition to Anisimova with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) scoreline.
Pegula is but to drop a set this yr in Melbourne and is arrowing in on her first main crown on the age of 31.
“It’s superior,” Pegula mentioned of reaching her first Australian Open semifinal.
“I’ve been in a position to go deeper in the US Open within the final couple of years, however right here was the primary Slam that I broke by way of at.
“I really feel like I play some good tennis right here, I just like the circumstances and even matches I’ve misplaced right here I’ve performed effectively in so I’ve been ready for the time once I might break by way of.”
The sixth seed was helped by an error-riddled show from fourth seed Anisimova, who racked up 44 unforced errors to Pegula’s 21.
Anisimova’s frustrations boiled over on the finish as her hopes of reaching a 3rd main title in a row melted away in a blur of errors.
Sixth seed Pegula and Rybakina have shared three wins every of their six matches to this point.
Two-time champion Sabalenka faces Ukrainian twelfth seed Elina Svitolina within the different semifinal.
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