First set: Rybakina establishes early control
The clash between world No.5 Elena Rybakina and world No.7 Jessica Pegula began with clear early control from Rybakina, who secured an immediate break and did not allow Pegula a single break opportunity in the opening set.
Rybakina finished the first set with twice as many winners as Pegula, while also committing fewer unforced errors — a statistical combination that clearly reflected her dominance.
Despite landing less than 50 percent of her first serves, Rybakina proved highly effective behind her second serve, winning an impressive 79 percent of points. That efficiency created a decisive edge between the two players and allowed her to close out the set with authority.
Second set: High intensity and dramatic swings
The second set opened with even greater aggression from Rybakina, who struck five aces early but also began to accumulate errors as the tempo increased. She recorded twice as many unforced errors as Pegula, but also maintained a two-to-one advantage in winners, highlighting the high-risk nature of her approach.
Once again, Rybakina was the first to break serve, but Pegula responded immediately with a break of her own. Rybakina then struck back, regaining the advantage and moving ahead 5–3, with Pegula serving to stay in the match.
Rybakina earned her first match point in that game but failed to convert, allowing Pegula to hold serve and then break back when Rybakina served for the match. At 5–5, Rybakina broke once more, only to lose serve again as Pegula forced the set into a tiebreak.
Tiebreak drama decides the semifinal
In a tense tiebreak, Pegula moved ahead 6–5 and earned a set point, followed by another at 7–6. However, Rybakina remained composed, saving both chances before closing out the tiebreak 9–7.
The victory sealed Rybakina’s place in the Australian Open final and brought an end to a semifinal that proved far more unpredictable and dramatic than the earlier match.
For broader context on the stakes and significance of the women’s semifinals and the road to the final, read our full Australian Open 2026: Day 12 Preview.
By Hameltion – Own work This file was derived from: Elena Rybakina (2023 US Open) 69.jpg:, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=137392426
By Ocoudis – Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=159241949