Rybakina overcomes Pegula to book Sabalenka showdown at Australian Open

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2026-01-29 21:31:00

Elena Rybakina hits a return during the women's singles semifinal match between Jessica Pegula of the United States and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 29, 2026. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua)

MELBOURNE, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Fifth seed Elena Rybakina will get her chance to exact revenge against No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in an intriguing Australian Open final after a ruthless straight-sets victory over American Jessica Pegula on Thursday.

The former Wimbledon champion overcame the sixth-seeded Pegula's best attempts at an unlikely comeback to prevail 6-3, 7-6 (7) in the second semifinal at Rod Laver Arena.

Rybakina's bid for a second grand slam title will go through Sabalenka, who earlier thrashed 12th-seeded Elina Svitolina.

It will be a rematch of the 2023 Australian Open final, where Rybakina was left heartbroken after Sabalenka came from behind in a three-set classic.

"It was such a battle. I'm glad I was able to win it and super happy to be in the final," Rybakina said of her one hour and 40-minute win over Pegula.

With many fans decrying the tournament for its lack of competitive matches, hopes were high for a belated epic between players who had not dropped a set en-route to the semifinal.

Rybakina wasn't interested in fan lament as she claimed an early stranglehold by hitting the lines and finished off a dominant first set with a forehand crosscourt winner.

She kept the foot on the pedal with a break early in set two before an unexpected twist.

Rybakina squandered three match points in the ninth game and twice was unable to serve it out.

But she held her nerve and clinched a tense tiebreak with a booming backhand down the line to set up a rematch with Sabalenka. ■

Elena Rybakina reacts after the women's singles semifinal match between Jessica Pegula of the United States and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 29, 2026. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua)

Jessica Pegula hits a return during the women's singles semifinal match between Jessica Pegula of the United States and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 29, 2026. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua)

Jessica Pegula reacts during the women's singles semifinal match between Jessica Pegula of the United States and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 29, 2026. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua)

Elena Rybakina reacts during the women's singles semifinal match between Jessica Pegula of the United States and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 29, 2026. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua)