Ice Queen Elena Rybakina storms past Swiatek, one step from Australian Open final

Elena Rybakina delivered a statement after defeating Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. The Kazakh capitalised on a critical moment in the first set to seize the momentum and advance to the semi-finals in Melbourne, where she now awaits her next opponent between Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova.

The Kazakh managed to overcome early problems with her serve and secured an emphatic victory, winning eight of the final nine games played. Rybakina is now just one step away from the final, where she will face the winner of the all-American showdown scheduled for the night session.

The Kazakh continues the impeccable form she has carried since the end of 2025, reaching 18 wins in her last 19 appearances, in addition to her ninth straight top-10 victory. Swiatek, meanwhile, exits the Australian Open in the quarter-finals and remains without another major title needed to complete the Career Grand Slam.

Rybakina began by dropping her opening service game. She landed just one of her first five first serves, and Swiatek claimed an early break following a forehand mistake from her opponent. The Pole failed to capitalise on the early advantage, and Rybakina quickly recovered the break.

Both players found greater stability in the following games, holding serve without major trouble. As the set progressed, it was Rybakina who — despite a lower first-serve percentage — held her service games more comfortably. On the other side, Swiatek struggled when rallies were extended and suffered particularly when Rybakina attacked with down-the-line backhands, targeting Swiatek’s forehand, which was not as incisive as it usually is.

Rybakina maintained the pressure until moving ahead 6–5, and when it seemed the set would head into a tie-break, Swiatek conceded a couple of break points. Rybakina then claimed the set after a Swiatek unforced error on a cross-court forehand.

Rybakina had seized control of the match and began the second set solidly on serve, before earning a break to love following a poor service game from Swiatek. The six-time major champion won just 50% of points on her first serve and 17% on her second, finished with nine unforced errors compared to five from Rybakina, and produced only three winners against her opponent’s 13.

Swiatek managed to hold just one of her service games, and Rybakina secured a double break to move ahead 5–1. Serving for the match, the former Wimbledon champion sealed the victory with an ace. Rybakina closed out the win after one hour and 35 minutes and firmly establishes herself as a title contender at the Australian Open with a 7–5, 6–1 victory.

The 2023 finalist now awaits her next opponent, to be decided in the second match on Rod Laver Arena between Americans Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova — the only Americans still in the draw following the quarter-final eliminations of Coco Gauff and Iva Jovic.