Elena Rybakina defeated Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 in the Australian Open quarterfinals on Wednesday, ending the second seed's hopes of completing a career Grand Slam this year. The fifth seed advanced to her fourth Grand Slam semifinal with a dominant performance, particularly in the second set.
Rybakina's serve proved decisive, as she won 93% of points behind her first serve in the first set despite landing only 41%. She broke Swiatek in the 12th game to take the set, then cruised through the second set with aggressive baseline play. The win ties their head-to-head record at 6-6.
Rybakina will face sixth seed Jessica Pegula, who defeated Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6 (1) to reach her first Australian Open semifinal. Pegula has not dropped a set in five matches this tournament, showcasing strong serving and composure under pressure.
Swiatek said she plans to make significant changes to her game, particularly her serve, and may adopt a lighter schedule to allow more time for improvement. She acknowledged the need to address recurring issues but expressed determination to refine her approach.
