Elena Rybakina moved with purpose and power in Melbourne, sweeping past Elise Mertens 6-1, 6-3 to book a place in the Australian Open 2026 quarterfinals. On Margaret Court Arena, the World No. 5 needed only 1 hour and 17 minutes to complete a clear, calm, and clinical win over the No. 21 seed. It is her sixth straight victory over the Belgian and pushes her head-to-head lead to 6-1.

For Rybakina, this is a meaningful return. She is into the last eight at the Australian Open for the second time, and the first since 2023 when she stormed all the way to the final. It also ends a short wait for a deep Slam push: this is her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since she reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2024.

Rybakina rolls into Australian Open quarterfinals

The scoreline tells the story. Rybakina jumped on the match early, set the tone with strong first-strike tennis, and never let Mertens find a long rhythm. The 6-1 opening set gave her runway. The 6-3 second set sealed the result without fuss.

There was no sense of panic, only control. Melbourne’s hard courts reward clean, early hitting, and Rybakina delivered exactly that. Her court position stayed aggressive, her returns were firm, and her baseline tempo kept Mertens guessing.

“Six in a row over Mertens — this matchup feels locked in now.”

Head-to-head dominance: six straight and counting

Coming in, Rybakina had won their last five meetings. Now it’s six. The 6-1 overall series paints a clear picture of trends that favor the Kazakh star. When Rybakina gets her weight into the ball, her pace and depth push Mertens out of neutral. The Belgian, a smart and steady counterpuncher, needs time to redirect. Rybakina rarely gives it.

That dynamic showed again here. The patterns leaned one way. Rybakina played on the front foot and kept rallies short, and Mertens could not create enough pressure or dig-in hold after hold. Sometimes in tennis the style match is everything; this one continues to lean toward the big striker.

“Rybakina’s forehand through Margaret Court Arena is a cheat code when she’s set on the shot.”

How she did it: aggression with control

Rybakina summed it up herself on court: “I stayed aggressive and I think improved from the last match.” That approach stood out. She did not overplay. She picked smart targets, finished points when they were ready, and accepted the extra ball when needed.

Against a balanced opponent like Mertens, that blend matters. Pure power alone does not win top matches. Timing does. Shot selection does. From the first set, Rybakina’s timing was clean and her serve and return patterns gave her immediate looks at short balls. The scoreboard pressure never left Mertens.

Why this quarterfinal matters for Rybakina

This run reconnects Rybakina to a happy place in her career arc. The last time she stood in the Australian Open quarterfinals, in 2023, she kept going and reached the final. That memory is useful. It brings confidence when the stakes rise and the rallies tighten in week two.

It also signals renewed Grand Slam momentum. This is her first Slam quarterfinal since Wimbledon 2024, where she made the semifinals. Big events often come down to form peaking at the right time. Rybakina’s form, by both the scoreline and the eye test here, is trending up.

“Quarterfinals again in Melbourne — is 2023 the blueprint for 2026?”

Mertens’ day: solid, but smothered by pace

Elise Mertens, the No. 21 seed, is one of the tour’s most dependable pros. She is tough to hit through and rarely beats herself. But the matchup here is rough. When Rybakina lands first serves and leans on the return, Mertens faces a narrow runway to counter and extend.

That is what played out. Mertens had flashes, especially early in the second set, but the scoreboard always favored the World No. 5. The Belgian can leave Melbourne with positives from earlier rounds, yet the gap on this day was clear.

The bigger picture at the Australian Open

The Australian Open quarterfinals demand clarity: take your patterns, trust them, and live with the result. Rybakina’s blueprint is simple and strong. Short backswings, big first steps, stop the opponent from settling. If she repeats that mix, she is a threat to anyone left in the draw.

The conditions in Melbourne reward brave striking, but only when paired with shot discipline. Rybakina showed both. As the tournament tightens, that balance will be the key to turning quarterfinals into something more.

What’s next

Rybakina advances to the last eight at Melbourne Park for the second time in her career. The quarterfinal stage is where elite habits matter most: first serve percentage, smart second-serve returns, and cool decision-making on break points. She has those tools. Just as important, she has the memory of 2023 to guide her through the pressure of week two.

For Rybakina, this win is more than a clean score. It is a signal of readiness. She set the tone early, stayed aggressive, and never let go. In January, on these courts, that is often the winning recipe.