AO26 - Calm, Cool and Elena

Since last October, Elena Rybakina, with her health and coaching situation finally in order, has once again been the ball-clocking, will-breaking, buttoned-down dominant force that it's been clear for quite some time that she's capable of being on a match in, match out basis.

Now it's just a matter of carrying that form out through the end of a major. If she can, career slam #2 could finally be hers.

Ruthless Rybakina, through to her 4th career Grand Slam semifinal 💯 pic.twitter.com/h2Ei8lkvWZ

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2026

#2 Iga Swiatek came into her QF match vs. #5 Rybakina with a 6-5 edge in their career head-to-head, but she had to know, right? If Rybakina's game slotted into its intended groove, Swiatek would probably have little chance of advancing. A few years ago, before lingering health issues, controversy surrounding her coach, and a series of snubs and/or disrespectful decisions lobbed in her direction (i.e. "Clowns") served to sidetrack her for a bit, the Kazakh had assumed a dominant position over the then-#1 Swiatek. Over the 2023-24 season, Rybakina won four of six matches against Swiatek, including two on clay vs. the reigning Roland Garros champ, before Rybakina's troubles saw her lose four straight in the series last year.

But when the two met up in the WTA Finals last fall, near the end of her stunning season-closing stretch, after dropping the 1st set, Rybakina pummeled the Pole by dropping just one game in the final two sets. Today, with the return of the smooth power of Rybakina's game, along with Iga's familiar looking early season issues against players who aren't intimidated by her mere presence and resume on the other side of the net, made this one feel like a potential hard exit for and end of Swiatek's quest to complete her Career Slam with an elusive Melbourne title. For 2026, at least.

Meeting for the first time since Riyadh, neither women started off particuarly well in the match, as they struggled to find any sort of groove on serve, leading to breaks in the opening two games, first with Swiatek going up 1-0, then Rybakina immediately returning the favor. The trend nearly continued into the third game, but Rybakina dug her way out of a love/40 hole to take a 2-1 lead.

Elena Rybakina during the set break in her match with Iga Swiatek at Australian Open:

“We both started so shit”

😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/ULoFeRhL3H

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 28, 2026

Over the first three games, the two combined to have seven BP opportunities, but then immediately righted their ships for the remainder of the set. The next eight games went by without either player facing a BP, but with Swiatek serving down 5-6 to force a tie-break, Rybakina finally carved out another BP/SP. Swiatek saved it, but two points later Rybakina got another chance, breaking to claim the set at 7-5.

She's got one foot in the semifinals.

Rybakina secures the late break to win the first 7-5. All to play for here on RLA. #AO26 pic.twitter.com/QElIk5zfRF

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2026

So, even with potentially Rybakina's most lethal weapon giving her trouble (she had just a 41% first serve percentage), the Kazakh still managed to pull ahead at the final turn and claim the set. Once she got settled, Rybakina fairly well schooled Swiatek. It wasn't a good sign for the Pole's chances in the match.

And as it turned out, Rybakina's real work (i.e. wrestling away the opening stanza) on the day was over, as Swiatek quickly fell behind in the 2nd and could not find a way to her feet.

honing her powers 😌🔋 @iga_swiatek pic.twitter.com/VM9iu7GhyV

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) January 28, 2026

Rybakina is making a statement here in the quarterfinal 👌
@wwos • @espn • @tntsports • @wowowtennis • #AO26 pic.twitter.com/Gq3nekpeDb

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2026

Rybakina took the break lead at 2-0 in the 2nd, consolidated her lead a game later, and then broke to take an unassailable lead at 5-1. A quick hold closed out the 7-5/6-1 victory, with Rybakina doubling up Swiatek in points (26-13) in the 2nd.

The moment Elena Rybakina beat Iga Swiatek to reach her 1st Australian Open Semifinal since 2023

Her 8th straight win when facing top 10 players.. unreal

Best server in tennis

Easiest power in tennis

What a joy to see her back to her best

🇰🇿🥹
pic.twitter.com/wpwiDEELMk

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 28, 2026

Rybakina, into her first AO SF since reaching the final in 2023, is now two wins from her first major title since the '22 Wimbledon. 18-1 since mid-October, she's won eight straight matches vs. Top 10 opponents and has posted a total of nine such victories since last year's U.S. Open.

If you're looking for another potential pattern, the Kazakh ended her '25 campaign with, in order, wins over Swiatek, Jessie Pegula and Aryna Sabalenka (w/ a win over Alexandrova between Iga and Jess) en route the WTAF title. After her win over Swiatek at this AO... Pegula is up next, with the potential for Sabalenka to be around for another final match-up this weekend.

I'm just sayin'.

=AO NOTES= ...in the all-Bannerette match-up in Day 11's final QF, the story was (mostly) an even more open-and-shut case than with Rybakina/Swiatek.

While #4 Amanda Anisimova had yet to lose a set in Melbourne and was still alive in her attempt to reach a third straight slam final, #6 Jessie Pegula had been the most consistently in top form player so far at this AO. Her momentum carried over into today's match, as the 31-year old's play never really dipped, while Anisimova's high UE total prevented her (save for a blink near the end of the match) from ever putting sustained pressure on Pegula.

Pegula broke to open the match, went up a double-break at 4-1, and served out the 6-2 opening set. But later just a few mistakes very nearly forced her to play an extra set.

In game 8 of the 2nd, with Pegula up 4-3, Anisimova took a 15/40 lead. Pegula's error on the second BP handed Anisimova a chance to serve out the set at 5-3, but she played one of her worst games of the day, double-faulting on BP. Anisimova survived her seventh double-fault of the day, which had given Pegula a BP, but an error on a second BP gave the break lead back to Pegula.

After breaking Anisimova again (from 40/15 back), Pegula served for the win at 6-5. But up 30/15, a Pegula DF (just her second of the day) suddenly put her triumph in jeopardy, as an Anisimova backhand winner gave her a stay-alive BP chance, which she then converted to send things to a tie-break just moments after she'd thought she had squandered her last chance to get back in the match.

But Pegula played the breaker to near perfection, going up 3-1, then seeing back-to-back Anisimova errors (the last on return) stretch Pegula's lead to 5-1. She closed out the 7-1 TB to win 6-2/7-6(1), winning in her third straight slam QF after having previously been 0-6 in such matches in her career. She's now 4-0 in her series vs. Anisimova.

All three of her career slam SF appearances (w/ 2024-25 U.S.) have come since she turned 30, making Pegula the first woman in the Open era to have her first three major semis happen so late in a career.

Through to her first Australian Open semifinal 👏

Jessica Pegula defeats fellow American Anisimova 6-2, 7-6(1). #AO26pic.twitter.com/Cyv5KSrHrd

— wta (@WTA) January 28, 2026

...in doubles, both the #1 seeded pair of Katerina Siniakova/Taylor Townsend, the defending AO champs, and #3 Hsieh Su-wei/Alona Ostapenko exited in the QF on Day 11. Siniakova & Townsend fell to #7 Anna Danilina/Aleksandra Krunic, while Hsieh/Ostapenko were knocked out by #5 Gaby Dabrowski/Luisa Stefani.

DEFENDING DOUBLES CHAMPS OUT❌

#1 seeds 🇺🇸Taylor Townsend and 🇨🇿Katerina Siniakova are out in the QFs of Women's Doubles to the #7 seeds 🇰🇿Anna Danilina and 🇷🇸Aleksandra Krunic 6-2, 3-6, 6-0.

A bagel in that 3rd set. Wow. #AusOpen #AO26 pic.twitter.com/ypsvTzt0eX

— Jacob Pacheco (@JacobPacheco6) January 28, 2026

In mixed, defending champs Olivia Gadecki & John Peers advanced to the final (def. #4 Townsend/Mektic), where they'll try to become the first repeat AO MX duo since Jana Novotna/Jim Pugh (1988-89), though Barbora Krejickova more recently individually won three straight from 2019-21 (the first and last w/ Rajeev Ram).

INTO THE FINAL!! 💪👏

Gadecki & Peers are into CONSECUTIVE Mixed Doubles Finals following a 7-6(7) 6-2 [13 -11] battle over 4th seeds Townsend/Mektic pic.twitter.com/yOQa9IiV8u

— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) January 28, 2026

The Aussies will meet the French duo of Kristina Mladenovic & Manuel Guinard (def. #2 Stefani/Arevalo). Mladenovic, after opening '26 with a tour title in Auckland, will try to add to her (so far) nine major title career haul. The Pastry has won three slam MX crowns, two of them at the AO in 2014 and '22.

We don't see this much, argument b/w Arevalo and Mladenovic after the match! Arevalo was not happy with her on something and complained on the net after the match! pic.twitter.com/rEzItIr3m2

— Karan (@stfukarran) January 28, 2026

...in juniors, top seeded Czech Alena Kovackova fell to #13 Mariia Makarova, though the Czech and her sister Jana are still alive in the girls' doubles QF.

And on the opening day of wheelchair MD action, Diede de Groot won a 15th straight AO singles match (def. Jinte Bos love & 3) in her first appearance since 2024 after winning the title in her last four trips to Melbourne prior to hip surgery. In a minor upset, Lizzy de Greef knocked off Zhu Zhenzhen.

After opening round wins, the doubles SF will see Yui Kamiji & Zhu face de Groot & Aniek Van Koot.





...BUTTON-DOWN DOMINANCE on Day 11:

Rybakina after beating Iga Swiatek to reach her 2nd Australian Open SF:

“I love your attitude on court. You have a great demeanor. Very cool, calm, and collected. Is that how you are off the court as well?”

Elena: “Pretty calm outside of the court too. I can be fun too with… pic.twitter.com/IlgMeNo7XN

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 28, 2026

=WOMEN'S SINGLES SF=
#1 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR vs. #12 Elina Svitolina/UKR
#6 Jessie Pegula/USA vs. #5 Elena Rybakina/KAZ

=WOMEN'S DOUBLES QF=
#7 Danilina/Krunic (KAZ/SRB) def. #1 Siniakova/Townsend (CZE/USA)
#5 Dabrowski/Stefani (CAN/BRA) def. #3 Hsieh/Ostapenko (TPE/LAT)
#4 Mertens/Zhang (BEL/CHN) def. Hozumi/Wu (JPN/TPE)
(PR) Shibahara/Zvonareva (JPN/RUS) vs. (WC) Birrell/Gibson (AUS/AUS)

=MIXED DOUBLES FINAL=
(WC) Gadecki/Peers (AUS/AUS) vs. (PR) Mladenovic/Guinard (FRA/FRA)

=WHEELCHAIR SINGLES QF=
#1 Yui Kamiji/JPN vs. Lizzy de Greef/NED
#3 Li Xiaohui/CHN vs. (Q) Momoko Ohtani/JPN
Kgothatso Montjane/RSA vs. #4 Wang Ziying/CHN
Diede de Groot/NED vs. #2 Aniek Van Koot/NED

=WHEELCHAIR DOUBLES SF=
#1 Li/Wang (CHN/CHN) vs. Montjane/Tanaka (RSA/JPN)
de Groot/Van Koot (NED/NED) vs. #2 Kamiji/Zhu (JPN/CHN)

=GIRLS' SINGLES ROUND OF 16=
#13 Mariia Makarova/RUS def. #1 Alena Kovackova/CZE
Antonina Sushkova/UKR vs. #8 Thea Frodin/USA
Ekaterina Tupitsyna/RUS def. Sofiia Bielinska/UKR
Denisa Zoldakova/CZE vs. #6 Xinran Sun/CHN
#10 Kanon Sawashiro/JPN def. #5 Zhang Ruien/CHN
#14 Nadia Lagaev/CAN vs. #3 Ksenia Efremova/FRA
Anna Pushkareva/RUS vs. #11 Shao Yushan/CHN
Rada Zolotareva/RUS def. Qu Yihan/CNHN

=GIRLS' DOUBLES QF=
#1 A.Kovackova/J.Kovackova (CZE/CZE) vs. Jauffret/Kokkinis (USA/AUS)
#3 Cvetkovic/Frodin (SRB/USA) vs. Makarova/Zolotareva (RUS/RUS)
Clark/Lee (USA/USA) vs. Hermanova/Zoldakova (CZE/CZE)
James/Pawelska (JAM/POL) vs. Malova/Terentyeva (RUS/RUS)

Tracy Chapman - Talkin' Bout A Revolution pic.twitter.com/c40bEJKBKJ

— Oneway (@OneWayMusicX) January 17, 2026

*WTA SLAM QF - W/L IN 2020s*
15 - Sabalenka (13-1+W)*
14 - Swiatek (9-5)*
10 - Gauff (5-5)*
9 - Pegula (3-6)*
8 - Svitolina (2-6)*
7 - Rybakina (4-3)*
7 - Jabeur (3-4)
6 - Muchova (4-2)
6 - Krejcikova (2-4)
5 - Keys (3-2)
5 - Pavlyuchenkova (1-4)
4 - Anisimova (2-2)*
4 - Barty (3-1)
4 - Ka.Pliskova (1-3)
4 - Vondrousova (1-2+L)
4 - Zheng Q. (1-3)
[WTA slam QF W/L by nation in 2020s]
42 - USA (21-21)****
24 - CZE (9-14+L)
17 - BLR (15-1+W)*
15 - POL (10-5)*
12 - RUS (3-9)
10 - UKR (3-7)*
8 - KAZ (4-4)*
7 - AUS (3-4)
7 - TUN (3-4)

*CAREER SLAM SF - active*
23 - Venus Williams, USA (16-7)
14 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (7-6)*
9 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (6-3)
9 - Iga Swiatek, POL (6-3)
7 - Madison Keys, USA (2-5)
7 - Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (3-4)
5 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (4-1)
5 - Coco Gauff, USA (3-2)
4 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2-1)*
4 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (2-2)
4 - Vera Zvonareva, RUS (2-2)
4 - Karolina Muchova, CZE (1-3)
4 - Elina Svitolina, UKR (0-3)*
3 - Amanda Anisimova, USA (2-1)
3 - Sara Errani, ITA (1-2)
3 - Ons Jabeur, TUN (3-0)
3 - Jessie Pegula, USA (1-1)*
3 - Sloane Stephens, USA (2-1)

[SLAM SF 2020-26]
14 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (7-6)*
9 - Iga Swiatek, POL (6-3)
5 - Coco Gauff, USA (3-2)
4 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2-1)*
4 - Karolina Muchova, CZE (1-3)
3 - Ash Barty, AUS (2-1)
3 - Ons Jabeur, TUN (3-0)
3 - Madison Keys, USA (1-2)
3 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (2-1)
3 - Jessie Pegula, USA (1-1)*
2 - Amanda Anisimova, USA (2-0)
2 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (1-1)
2 - Jennifer Brady, USA (1-1)
2 - Simona Halep, ROU (0-2)
2 - Sofia Kenin, USA (2-0)
2 - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (2-0)
2 - Jasmine Paolini, ITA (2-0)
2 - Maria Sakkari, GRE (0-2)
2 - Elina Svitolina, UKR (0-1)*
2 - Serena Williams, USA (0-2)
1 - Mirra Andreeva, RUS (0-1)
1 - Paula Badosa, ESP (0-1)
1 - Danielle Collins, USA (1-0)
1 - Leylah Fernandez, CAN (1-0)
1 - Caroline Garcia, FRA (0-1)
1 - Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA (0-1)
1 - Dasha Kasatkina, RUS (0-1)
1 - Angelique Kerber, GER (0-1)
1 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (0-1)
1 - Magda Linette, POL (0-1)
1 - Tatjana Maria, GER (0-1)
1 - Garbina Muguruza, ESP (1-0)
1 - Emma Navarro, USA (0-1)
1 - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS (1-0)
1 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (1-0)
1 - Nadia Podoroska, ARG (0-1)
1 - Emma Raducanu, GBR (1-0)
1 - Belinda Bencic, SUI (0-1)
1 - Lois Boisson, FRA (0-1)
1 - Martina Trevisan, ITA (0-1)
1 - Donna Vekic, CRO (0-1)
1 - Marketa Vondrousova, CZE (1-0)
1 - Dayana Yastremska, UKR (0-1)
1 - Zheng Qinwen, CHN (1-0)
1 - Tamara Zidansek, SLO (0-1)
--
*-to play SF

[2026 SLAM SF BY NATION]
1 - BLR (0-0) - Sabalenka*
1 - KAZ (0-0) - Rybakina*
1 - UKR (0-0) - Svitolina*
1 - USA (0-0) - Pegula*

[SLAM SF BY NATION 2020-26 / 24 events]
21 - USA (11-9)*
16 - BLR (8-7)*
10 - POL (6-4)
9 - CZE (5-4)
4 - KAZ (2-1)*
3 - AUS (2-1)
3 - JPN (2-1)
3 - RUS (1-2)
3 - TUN (3-0)
3 - UKR (0-2)*
2 - ESP (1-1)
2 - FRA (0-2)
2 - GER (0-2)
2 - GRE (0-2)
2 - ITA (2-0)
2 - ROU (0-2)
1 (W) - CAN,CHN,GBR
1 (L) - ARG,BRA,CRO,SLO,SUI,ITA

[2026 AO SEMIFINALISTS - career AO SF]
4 - Sabalenka
2 - Rybakina
1 - Pegula
1 - Svitolina

[2026 AO SEMIFINALISTS - consecutive AO SF]
4 - Sabalenka

[2026 AO SEMIFINALISTS - consecutive Slam SF]
6 - Aryna Sabalenka (8 con HC slams)
2 - Jessie Pegula

[2026 AO SEMIFINALISTS - career AO W/L]
34-12...Svitolina
33-6...Sabalenka
20-6...Pegula
19-6...Rybakina

[2026 AO SEMIFINALISTS - career Slam W/L]
113-47...Svitolina
105-26...Sabalenka
64-22...Rybakina
62-27...Pegula

[2026 AO SEMIFINALISTS - 2026 season W/L]
10-0...Sabalenka
10-0...Svitolina
8-1...Pegula
7-1...Rybakina

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[image or embed]

— The New Republic (@newrepublic.com) January 27, 2026 at 1:13 PM

Does anyone honestly think this was anything other than a way to bribe Trump with plausible deniability?

— Prior_Industry (@prior-industry.bsky.social) January 27, 2026 at 1:14 PM

Melania cost $75 mill to produce and distribute ($30 mill went straight into Melania's pocket), while Amazon made $50 bill from the Dump regime. It's not a movie, it's a bribe.

— Crabby Coach (@crabbycoach.bsky.social) January 27, 2026 at 6:22 PM

Heat index was 110 degrees so he was offered cold drink. He went for a full body soak instead. pic.twitter.com/gBd0TuIed3

— Nature is Amazing ☘️ (@AMAZlNGNATURE) January 26, 2026

The space shuttle Endeavor being transported through residential neighborhoods on its way to the California Science Center. (2012)

pic.twitter.com/gIJzWfGLnt

— Science girl (@sciencegirl) January 27, 2026

TOP QUALIFIER: Guiomar Maristany/ESP
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #6 Jessie Pegula/USA (lost 5 games in 1r/2r)
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #6 Jessie Pegula/USA (def. DC Keys and #4 Anisimova to reach first AO semi)
TOP LATE ROUND (SF-F): x
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q2 - Guiomar Maristany/ESP def. Tatiana Prozorova/RUS 6-2/2-6/7-6(10-7) - saved four MP (at 6-5 in the 3rd), reached maiden slam MD
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 1st Rd. - Elsa Jacquemot/FRA def. #20 Marta Kostyuk/UKR 6-7(4)/7-6(4)/7-6(10-7) - 3:31; first three-TB women's match at AO; Jacquemot saves MP in 2nd set, wins 10-7 MTB in 3rd for first Top 20 win
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 3rd Rd. - #1 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR def. Anastasia Potapova/AUT 7-6(4)/7-6(7) - Sabalenka sweeps TB, wins in two after led 2nd 4-0 and failed to serve out match at 5-4, then fell behind 6-3 in TB and saved 4 SP
TOP LATE RD. MATCH (SF-F/WC/Doub.): x
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: (WC) Talia Gibson/AUS (def. Anna Blinkova/RUS)
FIRST SEED OUT: #26 Dayana Yastremska, UKR (1r- lost to Gabriela Ruse/ROU)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Nikola Bartunkova/CZE (1st slam MD), Linda Klimovicova/POL (1st), Petra Marcinko/CRO (1st), Taylah Preston/AUS (3rd), Oksana Selekhmeteva/RUS (5th)
PROTECTED RANKING BEST: Karolina Pliskova/CZE (3rd Rd.)
LUCKY LOSER BEST: 0-1 in 1r
UPSET QUEENS: The Crush of Czechs
REVELATION LADIES: Australia (6 in 2r most since 1992)
NATION OF POOR SOULS: Russia (4-5 1st Rd.; only 9 in MD after AO-best 9 to 2r in '25; has lost 7 notable players to other nations since '23; lost 2 Top 20 seeds)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Maddison Inglis/AUS (4r)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Talia Gibson/AUS, Priscilla Hon/AUS and Taylah Preston/AUS (all 2nd Rd.)
LAST AUSSIE STANDING: Maddison Inglis (4th Rd.)
Ms. OPPORTUNITY: Nominee: Jovic, Pegula, Rybakina
IT (Beloved Turk): Zeynep Sonmez/TUR
COMEBACK PLAYER: Nominees: S.Hunter, Zvonareva, Mladenovic, Pliskova, de Groot?
CRASH & BURN: #26 Dayana Yastremska/UKR and #20 Marta Kostyuk/UKR (first two seeds out lose in back-to-back ANZ Arena matches on Day 1
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF MELBOURNE: Maddison Inglis/AUS (saved 2 MP vs. Leyre Gormaz Romero in 3-hr. Q1 match, then won back-to-back 3-hr. matches in 1r/2r en route to maiden slam Round of 16)
KIMIKO VETERAN CUP: Nominees: Venus Williams/USA (at 45 years and 7 months, breaks 2015 record of Kimiko Date as the oldest woman in an AO singles MD match); Zvonareva
LADY OF THE EVENING: Elina Svitolina/UKR
AUSTRALIAN LANGUAGE ARTS AWARD: ["Show Pony Fashion Sense"] Naomi Osaka's jellyfish-inspired, "My Fair Lady" nighttime intro outfit
DOUBLES STAR: Nominees: Gadecki, Mladenovic
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: x

All for now. More soon.