Fifth-seeded Elena Rybakina sealed her spot in the Australian Open semifinals on Wednesday, to defeat six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 at Melbourne Park.
Elena Rybakina said reporters,
“I Really pleased with the win and we know each other pretty well, I was just trying to stay aggressive.”
“In the first set, neither of us had much success on our first serve, so we both looked to step in on the second serve and apply pressure.”
“I think in the second, I just started to play more free. Serve better and I am really happy with the win.”
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Swiatek made a fast start by breaking Rybakina in the opening game, capitalizing on the Kazakh’s second serve. However, the world number two was unable to consolidate the break and immediately handed the advantage back.
Both players held serve until the final game, while Swiatek sent a shot into the net allowing Rybakina to clinch the opening set after nearly an hour of play.
Rybakina capitalised on Swiatek’s growing frustration on serve, sealing the second game of the second set. Rifling a forehand into the corner and leaving the Pole rooted to the spot.
Iga Swiatek was left questioning a marginal line call as Rybakina broke her serve again late in the set. She before holding to seal her progression in the set.
Jessica Pegula reached the Australian Open semifinals for the first time in her career after defeating fourth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6(1).
The sixth seed, who had fallen at the quarterfinal stage in 2021, 2022 and 2023 will now face Rybakina for a place in Saturday’s final.
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Pegula surged to a 4-1 lead as a visibly frustrated Anisimova struggled in the early exchanges and conceding two breaks of serve within the opening five games. Anisimova showed signs of composure late in her first set and carried that momentum forward, breaking Pegula to move 5-3 ahead.
The pair then exchanged breaks to force a second-set tiebreak, where Pegula held her nerve to increasingly agitated Anisimova.
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