The women's semifinals at the Australian Open 2026 feature top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina against Elina Svitolina and Jessica Pegula, respectively, on Rod Laver Arena. All four players have reached the last four without dropping a set, marking a rare feat in Grand Slam history. The matches promise intense competition as contenders vie for a spot in the final.
The Australian Open 2026 women's semifinals are scheduled for Thursday on the main showcourt at Melbourne Park. In the first match, starting at 8:30 a.m. GMT (7:30 p.m. local time), world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka faces No. 12 seed Elina Svitolina. Sabalenka, who won the title in 2023 and 2024 but lost the 2025 final to Madison Keys, seeks her third Melbourne triumph and fourth Grand Slam overall. Svitolina advanced by knocking out Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals, showcasing her strong form this season with zero sets dropped in the tournament. The second semifinal follows shortly after, pitting No. 6 Jessica Pegula against No. 5 Elena Rybakina. Pegula, in her second consecutive major semifinal, defeated No. 4 Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6(1) in an all-American quarterfinal, winning 16 of 25 second-serve points while Anisimova committed seven double faults. Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, pulled away to beat No. 2 Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1, capturing eight of the last nine games and leading the tournament with 35 aces. Their head-to-head stands at 3-3, with Rybakina winning the most recent encounter in three sets at the WTA Finals in Riyadh last fall; they have never met at a Grand Slam. Pegula emphasized her persistence post-match: 'I've always been someone that doesn't really panic -- I don't really get too emotional.' Rybakina highlighted adaptability: 'You can play indoor, you can play outdoor, sun, it can be [a] night match. So all these conditions [are] a bit tricky. I think probably now I'm more calm.' This is only the fifth time in 30 years at a major that all semifinalists have not dropped a set. Viewers can watch live on broadcasters like ESPN in the US, Eurosport in Europe, and Stan Sport in Australia.
