Rybakina Turns Tables on Swiatek in Melbourne Rout

In the humid glare of Rod Laver Arena, Elena Rybakina upended Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 in the Australian Open 2026 quarterfinals, shattering the No. 2 seed’s pursuit of a career Grand Slam. The No. 5 seed from Kazakhstan, born in Russia, absorbed early pressure from Swiatek’s baseline probing before her flat groundstrokes took over on the medium-fast hard courts. This win, after five meetings last season, positions Rybakina for a second major since her 2022 Wimbledon breakthrough, while denying Swiatek the Australian Open to complete her set alongside four French Open titles, a US Open, and a Wimbledon crown.

The matchup exposed surface contrasts: Swiatek’s heavy topspin crosscourts, lethal on clay, lost some sting on Melbourne’s Plexicushion, where Rybakina’s penetrating returns skidded low and forced errors. Both players grappled with first-serve inconsistencies early, dipping below 60% and inviting aggressive second-serve returns that extended rallies into a tactical duel. Rybakina’s composure shone through, her inside-out forehands pinning the Pole deep and disrupting rhythm in the humid air.

First set hinges on serve pressure

The opener dragged to an hour, a test of mental fortitude where Swiatek chased her place among the 11th women to claim all four Slams. Rybakina stepped inside the baseline on second serves, pressuring with deep returns that neutralized Swiatek’s one–two setup of topspin forehand follow-ups. She broke in the 12th game after a grueling exchange, firing a crosscourt backhand winner that hugged the line and drew cheers from the sun-baked crowd.

Swiatek pushed back with drop shots that teased the net, but Rybakina’s anticipation covered the court, turning defense into counterpunches. The Polish player’s unforced errors mounted subtly, a sign of the tournament’s accumulating toll—adapting from indoor practices to outdoor variables like shifting light and wind. Rybakina held her nerve, her flat bombs cutting through the thicker air to edge the set and flip the psychological script.

Second set surges with free power

With momentum hers, Rybakina broke twice at the start of the second, racing to 3-0 as Swiatek’s forehand wavered under the onslaught. Two aces rocketed her to 4-1, the ball kicking sharply off the hard courts and forcing weak returns from the baseline. Her serve, now landing with over 75% first balls, set up inside-in forehands that overwhelmed Swiatek’s movement, the Ukrainian-born player’s defense a step slow on the faster surface.

A third break in the sixth game came on a double fault, and Rybakina closed with another ace, her 12th of the match sealing the rout. The shift felt abrupt—Rybakina playing looser, her down-the-line backhands slicing through gaps Swiatek couldn’t close. This dominance highlighted her hard-court growth, where flat hitting thrives amid the Australian Open’s pace, easing the mental grind of two weeks under Melbourne’s summer heat.

Swiatek reflected steadily on familiar areas to sharpen, her pre-tournament notes unchanged by the loss—no sudden epiphany, just steady resolve for future hard-court pushes. The defeat stung, halting her immediate Slam quest, but their rivalry’s respect endured in the post-match quiet.

Semifinals promise deeper drama

Rybakina now meets Jessica Pegula, who outlasted fellow American Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6 (1) in the last women’s quarterfinal, a gritty win showcasing Pegula’s returns en route to her first major shot after the 2024 US Open final. The American’s steady baseline game will probe Rybakina’s serve, but the Kazakh’s power could dictate with crosscourt winners on these courts. Across the draw, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka faces Elina Svitolina, blending Belarusian thunder with Ukrainian poise in another Thursday showdown.

The Grand Slam marathon tests everyone, with Rybakina voicing the daily challenges—sun-soaked days blending into night sessions, outdoor bounces varying with indoor stability. Quick adaptations keep focus sharp amid the emotional swell of deep runs. “There is always, like, challenging days,” she noted. “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.”

“When it’s the first final and you go so far in the tournament, of course you are more emotional,” she added, her calm demeanor belying the inner surge. As semifinals dawn, Rybakina’s honed serve and freer strokes position her to channel that energy, potentially reshaping the draw and chasing a title that feels within reach on Melbourne’s hard courts.