Silent tides surge back! Rybakina returns to the Australian Open semifinals

During the 2026 Australian Open women's singles quarterfinals, a much-awaited showdown unfolded between top 10 players Rybakina and Swiatek. As the leading powers in the current women's tennis scene, their battle was seen as one of the tournament's highlights. In this intense 1 hour and 35 minute duel, Rybakina triumphed in straight sets 7-5, 6-1, reaching the Australian Open semifinals for the first time since finishing runner-up in 2023, and successfully halting Swiatek's pursuit of a “Career Grand Slam.”

This victory not only marked Rybakina's fourth career semifinal appearance in a Grand Slam but also underscored her flawless performance at this Australian Open, where she has yet to drop a set. The final "goodbye ACE" that sealed the match was both the conclusion and a bold statement: Rybakina has powerfully returned to the Grand Slam stage. As she mentioned in a pre-season interview, her focus for 2026 is to break through at the Grand Slams. Compared to her relatively quiet Grand Slam results last year, reaching the semifinals here is a solid and significant step toward that goal.

Looking back at the end of last season, Rybakina’s performance over the past three months has been nothing short of impressive. Since October last year, she has won 18 of her last 20 matches, demonstrating remarkable consistency and competitiveness. At the close of the 2025 season, she claimed the title in Ningbo, withdrew from the Tokyo tournament after two wins due to physical issues, and then went undefeated in five matches to win the WTA Finals championship. Starting 2026, she won two matches in Brisbane to reach the quarterfinals, and at Melbourne Park, she has now won five consecutive matches. Notably, her victory over Swiatek marked her eighth straight win against top-ten opponents.

Even after several months, Rybakina admits that her winning streak at the end of 2025 continues to fuel her journey in Melbourne: "I believe the last few tournaments of last season gave me confidence through many tough matches, and of course, I am working hard to carry that momentum into this year. There are still many areas I need to improve, but the key is that I remain aggressive when opportunities arise, even if it means taking some risks."

At the same time, Rybakina keeps a clear mindset, stating she won’t dwell on past victories: "I don’t look back at the achievements from the end of last season because that was some time ago. My focus now is on daily training, how I feel in the moment, and necessary adjustments. Past wins are great memories, but what we need is consistent effort day by day."

In the match against Swiatek, Rybakina delivered a total of 26 winners, including 11 aces, continuing her dominant "Ace Queen" form from last season. She currently leads the ace count among women players at this Australian Open. On court, she wore the YONEX 2026 Australian Open white dress series, whose gradient tones and reflective elements created a modern visual effect under Melbourne’s bright sun; her feet were clad in blue and white ECLIPSION 5 shoes, and she wielded the VCORE 100 racket known for its excellent spin performance. This lightweight and agile gear provided solid support for her explosive serves and precise control, with every swing combining power, technique, and elegance.

In the upcoming semifinals, Rybakina will face another TOP 10 player—the tournament’s 6th seed Pegula—as she aims for her third Grand Slam final appearance. With this victory showcasing both technical dominance and tactical intelligence, Rybakina has sent a clear message to the tennis world: she is riding a rising momentum and will continue to demonstrate champion-level competitiveness not only under Melbourne’s sun but also on many Grand Slam stages ahead.

(Text and editing by Wang Fei, photos courtesy of Visual China)