A thrilling day of action at the Australian Open saw major upset and breakthrough victories as the women’s singles quarter-finals delivered fireworks at Melbourne Park.
Rybakina shocks Swiatek
In a blockbuster quarter-final earlier in the day, Elena Rybakina, the No. 5 seed, produced one of the biggest results of the tournament by defeating world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in straight sets, 7-5, 6-1.
Rybakina’s powerful and aggressive game overwhelmed Swiatek, particularly in the second set where the Kazakh star seized control from the outset.
After edging through a tight first set, Rybakina surged to a 3-0 lead in the second and never looked back, firing down a barrage of winners and aces to stamp her authority.
The win not only booked Rybakina a place in the semis — it also ended Swiatek’s bid for a career Grand Slam, as the Pole had been eyeing that rare achievement at Melbourne Park.
Post-match, Rybakina sounded a warning to the rest of the field, describing her display as one of confidence and freedom, especially as her serve found its rhythm in crucial moments.
Pegula prevails in all-American clash
Later on, Jessica Pegula continued her best run at the Australian Open, defeating fellow American and fourth seed Amanda Anisimova in straight sets, 7-6(1), 6-2 (or 6-3, 7-6(1) in some reports). (
Pegula’s victory marked a significant milestone — reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open for the first time in her career after past quarter-final exits.
The match saw Pegula use a strong serve and a steady baseline game to counter Anisimova’s aggressive shotmaking.
Although the American faced resistance in the second set, she took control in the tiebreak and closed it out with authority.
Anisimova, the No. 4 seed, struggled for consistency in pivotal games, and her frustration visibly grew as key opportunities slipped away.
What this means for the semis
With both victories in hand, Pegula and Rybakina are now set to meet in the Australian Open semifinals, with their head-to-head finely poised — and a place in the final at stake.
Pegula’s breakthrough run and Rybakina’s stunning upset over one of the game’s elite players sets up a compelling semifinal clash that pits raw power against tactical precision.
The other half of the women’s draw continues to take shape, with top seed Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina already confirmed in the semifinals.
Looking ahead
Thursday’s semifinals will see the women’s competition inch closer to crowning a champion, while the men’s quarter-finals still have marquee clashes to go, including Novak Djokovic vs. Lorenzo Musetti and Ben Shelton vs. Jannik Sinner.
Stay tuned for more live updates as the tournament heads into its final stages.
