Aryna Sabalenka moved one step closer to her third title at the Australian Open with a straight-sets win over Elina Svitolina in the semifinals on January 28, 2026. The top seed from Belarus defeated the Ukrainian player 6-2, 6-3 in 72 minutes on Rod Laver Arena, setting up a final against Elena Rybakina.
Sabalenka broke Svitolina’s serve three times in the first set and kept her under pressure with deep groundstrokes. Svitolina, who returned to form after a career break for motherhood, held early but lost momentum as errors mounted. Sabalenka sealed the match with a forehand winner, improving her record at Melbourne Park to 18 straight wins. She spoke after the match about staying focused on each point, crediting her team for the steady preparation.
In the other semifinal, Elena Rybakina outlasted Jessica Pegula 6-3, 7-6(7) in a match that lasted one hour and 45 minutes. The fifth seed from Kazakhstan took control in the first set with strong serving, breaking Pegula twice. The second set went to a tiebreaker after Pegula fought back from 5-4 down, but Rybakina held her nerve to win on her second match point with a backhand down the line. Rybakina, a former Wimbledon champion, reaches her first Australian Open final and looks to claim her second major.
Pegula pushed hard in the tiebreaker, saving two match points, but Rybakina’s 12 aces proved decisive. The American, in her third straight semifinal here, said she gave everything but credited Rybakina’s power on key moments. The day’s play at Melbourne Park drew over 85,000 fans despite light rain delays on outer courts. In mixed doubles, top seeds advanced to the final after straight-set wins, while junior events wrapped up quarterfinals with several upsets among top teenagers.
The women’s final between Sabalenka and Rybakina takes place on January 30, promising a battle of big servers. Men’s semifinals follow on January 29, with Carlos Alcaraz facing Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic meeting Jannik Sinner.
