Rybakina Shocks Swiatek; Pegula Bests Anisimova to Reach Australian Open Semis

In an electrifying turnaround, Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula have both advanced to the semifinals of the Australian Open, upending tournament frontrunners, Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova, respectively.

Iga Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion and second seed aiming for a career Grand Slam, faced a surprising exit at the hands of Rybakina, who secured a 7-5, 6-2 victory. This result ended Swiatek’s quest for the only Grand Slam title missing from her impressive array of six championships.

The fifth-seeded Rybakina, 26, previously contended in the 2023 Melbourne final, only to be defeated by Aryna Sabalenka. However, she displayed remarkable poise on Rod Laver Arena this year, serving 11 aces and striking 26 winners, winning eight of the last nine games decisively.

“Initially, emotions can be overwhelming when reaching a final or progressing in a tournament,” Rybakina expressed. “Now, my focus is simply on performing my best and improving with each match. It’s just another match.”

Admitting to a lackluster serve during her quarterfinal, Swiatek noted, “My serve wasn’t at the level I aimed for. I’ve been refining it in the offseason, but old habits resurface in matches. I’m committed to making necessary adjustments.”

On the other side of the draw, Jessica Pegula maintained her unbeaten streak, overcoming Amanda Anisimova with a score of 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) in an all-American clash. The sixth seed is on the hunt for her first major title, showcasing her talent throughout the tournament.

“Reaching my first Australian Open semifinal is incredible,” Pegula remarked. “While I have gone further at the US Open in recent years, this marks my true breakthrough here. I thrive under these conditions and feel confident.”

Anisimova struggled with her game, recording 44 unforced errors in contrast to Pegula’s 21, clearly feeling the heat as her aspirations for a third consecutive major title dwindled.

With Rybakina and Pegula tied 3-3 in their head-to-head meetings, an exhilarating semifinal battle is anticipated.

In the other semifinal, two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka will take on Ukraine’s 12th seed, Elina Svitolina.