MELBOURNE, January 28 – Elena Rybakina scripted a masterful upset at Australian Open 2026, defeating top seed Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 in the quarterfinals to advance with authority.
The Rod Laver Arena crowd witnessed a 93-minute thriller turned demolition. In their 12th encounter, initial service wobbles led to multiple breaks, but Rybakina’s clutch play – including a heroic recovery from 0-40 – secured the opener.
Momentum shifted decisively post-set one. Rybakina’s blistering forehands overwhelmed Swiatek, who won just one of the last nine games. Key stats told the tale: Swiatek’s 49% first-serve success rate versus Rybakina’s lockdown on serve, losing only 12 points in eight games.
Head-to-head now tied at 6-6, Rybakina’s form is ominous – 18/19 wins since October, eighth top-10 victory in a row.
The Kazakhstan powerhouse, 2022 Wimbledon winner, now targets a semifinal clash with Anisimova or Pegula, chasing another major final. Swiatek’s shocking exit fuels debates on her hard-court adaptability.