MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Jessica Pegula reached the Australian Open semifinals for the first time, defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6 (1) on Wednesday. This marks Pegula’s 14th win in her last 15 matches against fellow Americans, solidifying her dominance in domestic competitions.
Earlier at Rod Laver Arena, Elena Rybakina delivered a stunning performance, defeating Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1. This victory prevented Swiatek from achieving a career Grand Slam in singles titles. Rybakina, representing Kazakhstan, showcased her power and precision, effectively neutralizing Swiatek’s game.
The stage is now set for a captivating semifinal showdown between Pegula and Elena Rybakina on Thursday. In the other semifinal, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka will face Elina Svitolina. Pegula is chasing her first Grand Slam title, while Rybakina aims for her second, having previously triumphed at Wimbledon in 2022.
Pegula’s path to the semifinals included a victory over defending champion Madison Keys. She demonstrated near-perfection in the first set against Anisimova, closing it out with an ace. The second set proved more challenging, with both players breaking each other’s serve twice. “I’ve been waiting for the time when I can kind of break through,” she said, expressing her excitement about reaching the final four. “I feel like I really play some good tennis here and I like the conditions.”
Rybakina and Pegula have a closely contested head-to-head record, standing at 3-3. Swiatek, a four-time French Open champion and winner of the U.S. Open and Wimbledon, was denied her chance to complete a career Grand Slam. The first set against Rybakina lasted an hour, with Rybakina securing a crucial break in the final game.
The second set saw Rybakina take control, breaking Swiatek twice early on to establish a 3-0 lead. She continued to dominate, serving two aces to extend her advantage to 4-1, breaking again in the sixth game, and ultimately sealing the match with another ace. The two players have faced each other frequently, with Rybakina acknowledging their familiarity. “We know each other pretty well,” she stated. “In the first set, for both of us, the first serve was not really working so we were trying to step in on the second serve and put pressure on the other.”
Rybakina emphasized the importance of adapting to the challenging conditions of Grand Slam tournaments. “There is always, like, challenging days,” she said. “You can play indoor, you can play outdoor, sun, it can be night match. So all these conditions a bit tricky. Also, how quick you can adapt to these circumstances.” She also acknowledged the emotional toll of reaching the later stages of a Grand Slam. “When it’s the first final and you go so far in the tournament, of course you are more emotional.”
Men’s Semifinals Set
The men’s draw also saw the top four seeds advance to the semifinals. Two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic will face off in one semifinal, while No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz will take on No. 3 Alexander Zverev in the other. Djokovic advanced after Lorenzo Musetti retired with an injured leg, while Sinner continued his impressive streak at Melbourne Park with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over Ben Shelton.
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