Jessica Pegula Dominates Amanda Anisimova In Fiery Australian Open Quarterfinal

Australian tennis fans witnessed a dramatic showdown at Rod Laver Arena as Jessica Pegula powered past Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6(1) to reach her first-ever Australian Open semifinal. The clash, held on January 28, 2026, was billed as a battle between two of the top American women’s tennis stars—Pegula, the sixth seed, and Anisimova, seeded fourth and a finalist at both Wimbledon and the US Open in 2025. But the match quickly turned into a showcase of Pegula’s composure and Anisimova’s unraveling under pressure.

The first set set the tone for the evening, with Pegula breaking Anisimova to love in the opening game and never looking back. Pegula’s consistency and aggressive baseline play left Anisimova scrambling, as the 24-year-old racked up unforced errors at an alarming rate. By the end of the set, Pegula had closed out a convincing 6-2 win, finishing with an ace and making it clear she was ready to seize her moment on one of tennis’s biggest stages.

Things didn’t get any easier for Anisimova in the second set, though she showed flashes of the talent that carried her to two Grand Slam finals last season. She managed to save three break points in her opening service game and even broke Pegula to take a 5-3 lead, giving her a chance to serve for the set. But as the pressure mounted, Anisimova’s nerves got the better of her. Double faults and miscues returned at the worst possible time, allowing Pegula to break back and level the set.

With the set tied at 6-6, the match headed to a tiebreak. That’s when Anisimova’s frustration boiled over. Cameras caught her screaming at her coaches after falling behind 5-1 in the tiebreak, a moment that quickly went viral. Social media lit up with commentary about her visible distress. One fan remarked, “Anisimova was simply just awful today started literally crying down 2-1 in the first set and lost her mental from there.” Another chimed in, “She’s a head case. What is your coach supposed to do when you’re shanking serves?” The consensus among viewers was clear: this was a mental collapse as much as a physical one.

Anisimova ultimately finished the match with 44 unforced errors and seven double faults, compared to just 21 unforced errors from Pegula. The numbers told the story—Pegula was steady and relentless, while Anisimova couldn’t shake her demons. The final tiebreak was a rout, with Pegula racing away 7-1 to clinch the win in just under one hour and 40 minutes.

After the match, Anisimova didn’t shy away from her disappointment. “I would say as a tennis player, you can be very irrational, and obviously I’m very grateful for the life that I have, the career I have,” she said. “But you kind of lose your mind after matches like this. I think that after a day like today, I’m going to completely lose all sense of rationality for, like, 48 hours. That’s just kind of what goes into working so hard for something and then you have matches and days like this.” Her candid admission resonated with many, especially given her well-documented struggles with mental health—she took an eight-month break from tennis in 2023 for precisely that reason.

Jessica Pegula, meanwhile, was the picture of focus and determination. “I’ve been waiting for the time when I can kind of break through,” she told reporters, reflecting on her first semifinal appearance at Melbourne Park. “I feel like I really play some good tennis here and I like the conditions.” Pegula’s win marked her 14th victory in her last 15 matches against fellow Americans, highlighting her dominance on home soil and her growing reputation as one of the sport’s most reliable competitors.

The stakes now rise for Pegula, who advances to face Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, in the semifinals. The two are tied 3-3 in their head-to-head meetings, setting up what promises to be an electrifying contest. Rybakina earned her spot by dispatching Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 earlier in the day, ending Swiatek’s bid for a career Grand Slam. Pegula, for her part, is seeking her first Grand Slam title after previously reaching the quarterfinals at all four majors but never making it this far in Australia.

For Anisimova, this loss will sting—not just for the missed opportunity, but for the public scrutiny that followed. Her struggles on the court mirrored some of the challenges she’s faced off it. Earlier in the tournament, after a fourth-round win over Wang Xinyu, Anisimova was drawn into controversy when asked about representing the United States amid political turmoil back home. She responded, “I was born in America so I’m always proud to represent my country. A lot of us are doing really well. It’s great to see a lot of great athletes on the women’s and men’s side.” The answer sparked heated debate online, with some calling it tone-deaf and others applauding her patriotism.

Later, Anisimova addressed the incident directly, calling out reporters for “clickbait” questions and defending her right to avoid political commentary. “In my other press conference, the fact that I didn’t want to answer a question that was obviously intended for just like a headline and clickbait, that was my right. It had nothing to do with my political views or anything like that,” she said. “The fact that people assume that they know my stance on certain important topics is just wrong. It’s not factual. It’s tough, but I’ve learned to get used to it.” Her stance drew support from former American tennis stars John Isner and Tennys Sandgren, who criticized the nature of the questioning.

Despite the off-court drama and the on-court heartbreak, Anisimova remains a formidable force in women’s tennis. She’s still only 24, with two Grand Slam finals already under her belt and the resilience to bounce back from adversity. The Australian Open quarterfinal may not have gone her way this time, but her journey is far from over.

As the tournament moves forward, all eyes turn to the semifinals, where Pegula’s quest for her maiden Grand Slam title continues. With her confidence sky-high and a shot at history within reach, Pegula’s breakthrough run is the story to watch at Melbourne Park. For Anisimova, the challenge is to regroup, refocus, and prove that even the toughest defeats can be the launching pad for future triumphs.