Post by : Meena
Hassan
Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula have clinched their spots in the semifinals of the Australian Open, taking down tournament favorites Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova, respectively.
Iga Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion and second seed who aimed for a career Grand Slam in Melbourne, faced a straight-set defeat against Rybakina. The 2022 Wimbledon winner triumphed with a score of 7-5, 6-2, terminating Swiatek’s pursuit of the one major title that eluded her among six Grand Slam victories.
Rybakina, seeded fifth and aged 26, reached the Melbourne final in 2023 but narrowly lost to Aryna Sabalenka. Displaying remarkable composure on Rod Laver Arena this year, she served 11 aces and recorded 26 winners, clinching eight of the last nine games.
“Initially, emotions are elevated when you advance far in a tournament,” Rybakina mentioned. “Now, I’m focused on my performance and improving daily. It’s just another match.”
Swiatek acknowledged her serve faltered during the quarterfinals, stating, “My serve wasn’t as robust as I hoped. I’ve been working on it during the preseason, but old habits can resurface.”
Jessica Pegula, who remains undefeated in Melbourne this year, bested Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6 (7-1), marking a significant all-American encounter. The 31-year-old sixth seed aspires for her first major title with her stellar performances.
“Reaching my first Australian Open semifinal is incredible,” Pegula expressed. “While I’ve gone further in the US Open lately, this is my breakthrough here. I enjoy the conditions and feel assured.”
Anisimova’s struggle was evident with 44 unforced errors, compared to Pegula’s 21, as her ambitions for a third consecutive major title dwindled.
The head-to-head record between Pegula and Rybakina stands at 3-3 over six matches, promising an exciting semifinal showdown.
In the other semifinal, two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka will compete against Ukraine's 12th seed, Elina Svitolina.
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