{"id":445072,"date":"2026-01-29T11:58:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T11:58:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/445072\/"},"modified":"2026-01-29T11:58:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T11:58:16","slug":"australian-open-2026-live-aryna-sabalenka-beats-elina-svitolina-in-semifinal-elena-rybakina-and-jessica-pegula-vie-for-womens-singles-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/445072\/","title":{"rendered":"Australian Open 2026 live: Aryna Sabalenka beats Elina Svitolina in semifinal, Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula vie for women’s singles final"},"content":{"rendered":"

7h agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 4:43amWomen’s singles semifinals at the Australian Open on day 12\"Andrew<\/p>\n

8m agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 11:49am<\/p>\n

Deja vu for Rybakina as she fails to serve out the match at 6-5\"Jon<\/p>\n

She’s missed three match points on Pegula’s served and missed out when she served for the match at 5-4. If she can’t do it here, the nerves will start fraying for sure.<\/p>\n

Pegula steps in on another second serve and the backhand return gives her a look at two overheads at the net. She can’t truly put either away, but the second does force the errors from Rybakina. 0-15<\/p>\n

Unreturnable first serve down the middle and she badly needed that. 15-15<\/p>\n

Another bomb down the T and she finishes it off at the net for 30-15.<\/p>\n

A backhand shank out of nowhere and Rybakina’s 18th unforced error for the set gets Pegula back into this game at 30-30.<\/p>\n

Exceptional hitting on the forehand wing from Jess Pegula and again she forces the error to set up a break point. No quit in her. 30-40<\/p>\n

Pegula’s stepped in so far on that second serve I wonder if she’s cramped herself, but she gets in play, and then nets the follow-up. Deuce<\/p>\n

Another look at a second serve and Pegula capitalises, forcing Rybakina to take her top hand off the racquet as she digs out a backhand on the +1 shot. And Pegula finishes at the net. Advantage Pegula<\/p>\n

PEGULA BREAKS! Rybakina’s looked tight on almost every big point and this time she sprays another forehand to hand Pegula the break of serve.<\/p>\n

10m agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 11:47am<\/p>\n

Rybakina breaks and will serve for it again!\"Jon<\/p>\n

At 15-15, Rybakina gets some help from the net cord dropping a ball short, but Pegula’s drop shot on the previous shot was woeful so Rybakina deserved the winner to make it 15-30.<\/p>\n

Pure power off the backhand sets it up and the forehand winner finishes it off to set up two break points for Rybakina at 15-40.<\/p>\n

And Rybakina forces another error to give herself another chance to serve for it again!<\/p>\n

13m agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 11:44am<\/p>\n

Elena Rybakina broken as she serves for a spot in the Australian Open final\"Jon<\/p>\n

A ripping forehand up the line from Pegula at 138kph gets her an early 0-15 lead.<\/p>\n

Boom! Backhand return winner up the line. 0-30<\/p>\n

Pegula tries another monstrous return, but dumps a cross-court forehand into the net. 15-30<\/p>\n

ACE! Rybakina gets back to 30-30 with a bomb down the T.<\/p>\n

Pegula steps in on the second serve and Rybakina dumps a rank forehand halfway up the net. 30-40<\/p>\n

Rybakina sprays a forehand long, Pegula breaks and we’re back to 5-5! Out of nowhere.<\/p>\n

22m agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 11:35amRybakina wants to win this right now, but misses out on three match points\"Jon<\/p>\n

Rybakina is trying to crush returns off Pegula’s first serve. It was a mixed bag in that game, featuring a stunning winner, a slew of forehands that put her int total control of the point and a backhand dumped into the bottom half of the net.<\/p>\n

She’s not intimidated by Pegula’s serve at all.<\/p>\n

And Pegula gifts her a match point with a shanked backhand down the line.<\/p>\n

But Pegula saves it with some powerful baseline-to-baseline hitting to force the error from Rybakina.<\/p>\n

\"\"This is the most emotion you’ll see from Elena Rybakina on a tennis court. (Getty)<\/p>\n

The Kazakh gets a look at another one though as Pegula sends a running forehand long.<\/p>\n

But we’re back to deuce as Rybakina crushes her second-serve return and sprays her follow-up forehand.<\/p>\n

Back to match point we go as she rips a cross-court forehand return winner.<\/p>\n

Aaaaaaaand back to deuce in a carbon copy of her previous match point.<\/p>\n

And Pegula finds a couple of first serves to stay in the match and put the pressure of serving for the match back onto the fifth seed.<\/p>\n

24m agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 11:32am<\/p>\n

Rybakina is one game away from another grand slam final\"Jon<\/p>\n

She’s just about unstoppable serving with new balls and holds to move to 5-3 with another ace out wide in the ad court.<\/p>\n

31m agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 11:26am<\/p>\n

Rybakina consolidates the break\"Jon<\/p>\n

The Kazakh finds her range on the first serve, firing down her second and third aces and painting the lines to sprint to a 4-2 lead.<\/p>\n

In that game Rybakina’s managed to tick her first serve percentage back over half and she’s winning almost 80 per cent of her points when she does.<\/p>\n

Pegula looks lost out there despite still only being down one break.<\/p>\n

37m agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 11:20am<\/p>\n

And Rybakina re-breaks\"Jon<\/p>\n

We’re trading breaks of serve on Rod Laver Arena.<\/p>\n

Jess Pegula has got to be furious because she found some really good first serves in that one, but Elena Rybakina is just dominating any time she can get into a baseline rally.<\/p>\n

Rybakina will serve at 3-2 in the second set.<\/p>\n

40m agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 11:17am<\/p>\n

Pegula breaks straight back\"Jon<\/p>\n

Once again Rybakina’s first-serve percentage dips just below 50 per cent.<\/p>\n

Pegula starts really punishing some second serves and she’s managed to break back for 2-2.<\/p>\n

44m agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 11:12am<\/p>\n

Pegula’s broken again\"Jon\"\"(Getty)<\/p>\n

The pain is real for Jess Pegula as Elena Rybakina rips a 13th winner past her and breaks for a 2-1 lead.<\/p>\n

Pegula walks over to her chair at the change of ends and gives it a hearty whack with her racquet.<\/p>\n

She’s really agitated and her coaches are trying desperately bring her back to an even keel.<\/p>\n

Again, it’s only two breaks so far, but Rybakina is just crushing the ball out here and Pegula, as good as she can be defensively, just can’t keep up.<\/p>\n

50m agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 11:07am<\/p>\n

Level pegging to start the second set\"Jon<\/p>\n

Rybakina’s first-serve percentage is down at 50 per cent and Pegula’s doing a good job stepping in and trying to get the second serve early, before it spins up over her shoulders.<\/p>\n

It’s an aggressive strategy that’s yielding mixed results, and Rybakina nails a wide kicker that Pegula can only bunt back short, leaving an easy winner for Rybakina to hold for 1-1.<\/p>\n

53m agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 11:04am<\/p>\n

Jess Pegula starts better in the second set\"Jon<\/p>\n

It’s an easy hold to start the second set for Jess Pegula, securing the 1-0 lead with her second ace out wide.<\/p>\n

She’s chatting to her coaches again and saying Rybakina’s forehand is giving her fits.<\/p>\n

58m agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 10:59amRybakina is one set away from a return to the Australian Open final\"Jon\"\"(Getty)<\/p>\n

No wasted energy in that set from Elena Rybakina.<\/p>\n

The fifth seed got the break in the second game, skipped out to a 3-0 lead and never looked back as she coasted to a 6-3 win.<\/p>\n

The serve is rocking despite only landing about half of her firsts and she’s found some superb winners on both wings.<\/p>\n

Pegula is starting to find a little bit of rhythm, but the power of Rybakina is just bailing her out basically every time.<\/p>\n

1h agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 10:54am<\/p>\n

Pegula forces Rybakina to serve it out\"Jon<\/p>\n

A couple more service holds for both these players and Rybakina will serve for the set at 5-3.<\/p>\n

It’s only one early service break, but Rybakina really does feel right on top of this match.<\/p>\n

In saying that, Pegula is starting to find her feet and looks much more assured in the past couple of games.<\/p>\n

1h agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 10:47am<\/p>\n

Pegula looking overpowered but still in the fight\"Jon<\/p>\n

The power from Elena Rybakina’s side of the court is just rushing Jess Pegula and she can’t step in and rip because of the pace and depth isn’t giving her time.<\/p>\n

After an easy hold, Rybakina jumps out to a 15-40 lead on Pegula’s serve, but the American saves them both with some excellent serving.<\/p>\n

She wins a third straight point with her fastest serve of the night at 178 kph, and gets another tough hold as Rybakina sprays a backhand long.<\/p>\n

Rybakina will serve again while leading 4-2.<\/p>\n

1h agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 10:42am<\/p>\n

PEGULA GETS ON THE BOARD\"Jon<\/p>\n

Jess Pegula manages to hold serve to get herself on the board at 3-1.<\/p>\n

Her coach,\u00a0Mark Merklein, tells her she needs to go after her serves more in these night sessions.<\/p>\n

\"\"(Getty)<\/p>\n

All of Pegula’s previous matches have been day matches where the court is faster.<\/p>\n

Merklein says she’s trying to hit hybrid first serves \u2014 not quite power, not quite spin, but something in between \u2014 and he tells her she can’t do that in the heavier conditions. Either hit with pace or heavy spin.<\/p>\n

1h agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 10:36am<\/p>\n

Three straight for Elena Rybakina\"Jon<\/p>\n

Jess Pegula’s able to force deuce, but Elena Rybakina secures the service hold to consolidate her break as the American tries to crush a backhand return and finds the net again.<\/p>\n

Rybakina’s up 3-0 and has barely broken a sweat.<\/p>\n

\"\"(Getty)<\/p>\n

1h agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 10:31am<\/p>\n

Pegula surrenders the break straight away\"Jon<\/p>\n

Pegula is changing up paces and angles nicely with short slices and good redirects up the line, but Rybakina still jumps out to a 0-30 lead.<\/p>\n

Thankfully for Pegula, the Kazakh sends a couples forehands out of bounds to let the American back in, but Pegula follows suit to face a break point at 30-40.<\/p>\n

And she looks set to save it as she gets a short ball from a powerful wide serve to the ad court, but she nets the backhand.<\/p>\n

Rybakina breaks straight away!<\/p>\n

1h agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 10:25am<\/p>\n

Elena Rybakina serving first\"Jon<\/p>\n

Jess Pegula chose to receive after winning the toss. She’s a great returner, so it’s not a massive surprise, but it’s always an interesting watch.<\/p>\n

If she was hoping for an early statement break, she hasn’t got it, barely able to get into any rallies as big-serving Rybakina holds to love for a 1-0 lead.<\/p>\n

1h agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 10:23am<\/p>\n

We’re just about set for Jess Pegula vs Elena Rybakina\"Jon<\/p>\n

The second semifinal is an intriguing one between 2023 AO finalist Elena Rybakina and American sixth seed Jess Pegula.<\/p>\n

\"\"Jess Pegula is in her first Australian Open semifinal. (Getty)<\/p>\n

Rybakina, who won Wimbledon in 2022, has the grand slam pedigree but Pegula’s tournament has been incredibly impressive, including taking down defending champion and good friend Madison Keys in straight sets in the fourth round.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"7h agoThu 29 Jan 2026 at 4:43amWomen’s singles semifinals at the Australian Open on day 12 8m agoThu…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":445073,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[4909,64,63,6571,20336,41733,27488,44,9738,747],"class_list":["post-445072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-australia","tag-aryna-sabalenka","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australian-open","tag-elena-rybakina","tag-elina-svitolina","tag-jessica-pegula","tag-news","tag-semifinals","tag-tennis"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445072","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=445072"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445072\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/445073"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=445072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=445072"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=445072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}