Elena Rybakina stops Iga Swiatek in Australia and advances to semifinals
The women's draw of the Australian Open has a new twist after the elimination of the favorite. Elena Rybakina, Wimbledon champion, halted Iga Swiatek's path and advanced to the final four. Her next opponent will be the American Jessica Pegula. 🎾
A duel decided by Rybakina's power
The Kazakh imposed her aggressive game from the start. With a powerful serve and flat shots from the baseline, Rybakina controlled the key points. Swiatek, the world No. 1, could not deploy her usual rhythm and made errors in decisive moments. Rybakina stayed focused to close the match in straight sets.
Keys to Rybakina's victory:- High effectiveness with the first serve and decisive aces.
- Constant depth in baseline shots, pushing Swiatek into defense.
- Staying calm and capitalizing on the break opportunities that arose.
Rybakina's tennis was too powerful today. She controlled the center of the court and didn't let me play my game. - Post-match tactical analysis.
Jessica Pegula will be the semifinal opponent
For her part, Jessica Pegula confirmed her great form by securing her ticket to the semifinals. The American showed solid and consistent play from the baseline. The matchup against Rybakina is expected to be very balanced, as both arrive with great confidence and without dropping sets in this phase.
The other side of the draw:- The Chinese Qinwen Zheng earned her spot in the semifinals.
- She will face the Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, who completes the final four lineup.
- The winners of these matchups will contest the final of the year's first Grand Slam.
Melbourne's dream changes hands
While for some players the goal in Melbourne fades, for others it remains more alive than ever. This result shows that in elite tennis, any player having an inspired day can change the tournament's fate. The ball is, indeed, always in play. 🏆