On a cool Wednesday night at Rod Laver Arena, No. 5 seed Elena Rybakina delivered a clean, composed performance to beat world No. 2 Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 and book her place in the Australian Open 2026 semifinals. The quarterfinal ran 95 minutes, with a tight first set giving way to a one-way second as the Kazakh star ended Swiatek’s push for the career Grand Slam.

Rybakina will meet Jessica Pegula next, after the American edged past Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6(1). On the other side of the draw, Aryna Sabalenka faces Elina Svitolina, setting up a high-powered final four.

Rybakina vs Swiatek: composure under pressure in Melbourne

Both players know each other’s patterns. They met 11 times before this match, with Swiatek holding a 6-5 edge. From the start, there was tension in the air and a battle for first-strike control from the baseline. Rybakina admitted the early serving was shaky on both sides. “We know each other pretty well, and I was just trying to stay aggressive,” she said. “I feel like in the first set for both of us, the first serve was not really working, so just trying to step in on the second serve, put pressure on each other.”

The match swung on a few key moments. At 1-1 in the first set, Rybakina faced three break points. She erased all of them with bold serving and heavy first balls. That hold steadied her. The first set stretched close to an hour, a sign of how fine the margins were.

At 6-5, Rybakina pounced. She broke in the final game of the set by taking time away on return and stepping in on second serves. “It was a high-intensity match. First set was tight, a few points made the difference,” she said. Once ahead, she didn’t look back.

“Rybakina saved those early break points and stole the air out of the match. That was the hinge.”

The numbers: first-serve pressure, aces, and a decisive second set

Rybakina’s serve is a weapon, and it landed when it mattered. She fired 11 aces and won 79% of her first-serve points. Even behind her second serve, she held up, taking 17 of 30 points. She finished the match with 26 winners against 19 unforced errors and ended the night with an ace.

Swiatek never found her hitting zone for long enough stretches. She struck 10 winners but leaked 25 unforced errors. She acknowledged how the match sped up after the opening set. “In the second set, for sure, she improved the serve. She was going for the shots, and it got much tougher… I know what I need to improve,” Swiatek said. She added, “It was a difference of a couple points… She also gave me some chances on her serve.”

The second set told the full story. Rybakina raced to 3-0 with two early breaks, freeing up her swings and taking time away with early contact. “In the second set I just started to play more freely and served better,” she explained. From there, her rhythm and weight of shot were too much.

“If Swiatek can’t land first serves, Rybakina feasts. It’s that simple, and it’s brutal.”

Why this win matters: Rybakina’s surging form and rare company

Rybakina, 26, was born in Moscow and represents Kazakhstan. She owns the 2022 Wimbledon title and was the 2023 Australian Open runner-up. This win sends her into a second AO semifinal and her fourth major semifinal overall (first since Wimbledon 2024). Her record in Melbourne now stands at 19-6, and she is 64-22 across all Grand Slams.

The streaks jump off the page. She has now won all her Australian Open 2026 matches in straight sets. She has won 18 of her last 19 matches. Most telling: when Rybakina takes the first set, she has now won her last 21 matches. That mental lock after a fast start is a major edge deep in a Slam.

There’s more history. Rybakina becomes the first player to beat Swiatek multiple times at Grand Slams, having also defeated her at the 2023 Australian Open. She is also the only player with multiple wins over both Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka at WTA events. Add in eight straight wins over top-10 opponents — the most by a representative of an Asian country since 1990 — and the scope of her form is crystal clear.

“Rybakina’s calm is her superpower. Heavy ball, light heartbeat. That combination wins majors.”

What’s next: Jessica Pegula awaits in the Australian Open semifinal

Up next is No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula, who handled Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6(1). Pegula is looking for her first Grand Slam title after reaching the 2024 US Open final. Her clean, flat strokes and sharp return games have carried her deep again in Melbourne.

Rybakina’s path so far has been straightforward in scorelines if not in tension. She has not dropped a set this fortnight. The serve is clicking, the first ball after serve is biting, and the return stance is brave. Against Pegula, first-serve percentage and depth will be key. If Rybakina gets ahead early in rallies, she can control with pace and angles. If Pegula pins her back with depth, it becomes a chess match.

The other semifinal features defending champion Aryna Sabalenka against Elina Svitolina, adding more star power to a loaded final four. For fans, it’s a win-win: power tennis at its peak, with contrasting styles on both halves of the draw.

Swiatek’s Melbourne story: a bid halted, lessons banked

Swiatek, 24, arrived chasing the career Grand Slam. Her resume already includes four French Open titles, a US Open title, and a Wimbledon crown, but the Australian Open trophy remains missing. This loss will sting, yet it was decided by small details in the first set and a serving spike from Rybakina in the second.

Swiatek’s camp will look at the first-serve percentage and the rush on her second serve. When she did get looks, Rybakina’s first strikes took time away. The positive for Swiatek is her clarity. “I know what I need to improve,” she said. With her numbers and grit, she will be back.

Bottom line: pressure points decide big matches

This quarterfinal was won in the clutch and confirmed by raw power. Rybakina saved three break points early, broke at 6-5, then stormed through the second set 6-1, sealing it with an ace. The stat sheet backs the eye test: 11 aces, 26 winners, 79% on first-serve points, and steady second-serve protection.

For Rybakina, Melbourne again feels like home. For Swiatek, the hunt continues. And for everyone else, the semifinals promise firepower, fine margins, and another night of must-watch tennis at Rod Laver Arena.