The women’s semifinals take center stage at the Australian Open on Thursday, starting with Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elina Svitolina. Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula have no days off on the way to their match.
(1) Aryna Sabalenka vs. (12) Elina Svitolina
Can Svitolina turn this into a match despite being a heavy underdog? Her current form suggests she can. The 31-year-old Ukrainian is 10-0 so far in 2026 and 20-1 in total sets. Her season opener includes a title in Auckland and outright victories at the Australian Open over Mirra Andreeva and Coco Gauff.
Sabalenka leads the head-to-head series 5-1 heading into Thursday’s semi-final. The world number 1 has won four in a row, although their meeting in Rome in 2024 ended in a third-set tiebreak. Sabalenka is also 10-0 this year, with a title in Brisbane and no sets lost in Melbourne so far. The Belarusian should move up, but this will likely be her toughest test of the fortnight so far.
Choice: Sabalenka in 3
(6) Jessica Pegula vs. (5) Elena Rybakina
Thursday’s second semi-final should be just as good as both players are in excellent form. Rybakina, who won the WTA Finals last year, was not even pushed to a tiebreak at Melbourne Park. Pegula is 8-1 this season and has not lost a single set in five rounds at the Aussie Open. The world number 6 is coming off particularly impressive back-to-back victories over defending champion Madison Keys and world number 4 Amanda Anisimova.
The head-to-head series is tied at 3-3. Pegula leads 3-1 on outdoor hard courts, but Rybakina has won their last two meetings on aggregate: 6-4, 6-1 in the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup and 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 a few months later at the WTA Finals. The fourth-ranked Kazakh may have an edge in the pressure moments as she can win free points with a much bigger play, but this should be a fun game.
Choice: Rybakina and 3
#Australian #Open #picks #Sabalenka #Svitolina #Rybakina #Pegula