Jessica Pegula Reaches First Australian Open Semifinal

Jessica Pegula has finally broken through the quarterfinal barrier at the Australian Open, delivering a commanding 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) victory over fellow American Amanda Anisimova to earn her maiden semifinal berth at Melbourne Park. After three previous quarterfinal losses in Australia, the 31-year-old sixth seed played with poise and precision to dispatch the fourth-seeded Anisimova, who struggled to find her rhythm and composure in front of a lively Rod Laver Arena crowd on January 28, 2026.

Pegula’s win not only marks her first trip to the last four in Melbourne but also her third career Grand Slam semifinal appearance in singles. She now stands as the sole American woman remaining in the singles draw and is set to face No. 5 seed Elena Rybakina in a much-anticipated semifinal clash on Thursday, January 29. The stakes couldn’t be higher, as the winner will move on to challenge for the year’s first major title.

From the opening game, Pegula set the tone, breaking Anisimova immediately and racing to a 4-1 lead. Anisimova, who had reached the finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open in the previous year, was visibly frustrated, slamming her racket and exchanging heated words with her coaches’ box. The first set was over in a brisk 30 minutes, with Pegula sealing it with an ace and an air of quiet confidence.

“It’s awesome,” Pegula told reporters after her breakthrough win. “I’ve been able to go deeper in the US Open in the last couple of years, but here was the first Slam that I broke through at. I feel like I play some good tennis here, I like the conditions and even matches I’ve lost here I’ve played well in, so I’ve been waiting for the time when I could break through.”

The second set saw Anisimova briefly regain her footing. She broke Pegula’s serve to take a 5-3 lead, only to double-fault in the next game and surrender her advantage. Both players exchanged further breaks, and the set moved inexorably toward a tiebreak. But Pegula, who had already beaten defending champion Madison Keys in the previous round, showed nerves of steel. She dominated the tiebreak 7-1, capitalizing on Anisimova’s mounting errors and emotional unraveling.

Anisimova’s statistics told the story of her struggles: 44 unforced errors and seven double faults, compared to Pegula’s 21 unforced errors. The frustration was palpable as Anisimova’s hopes of a third consecutive major final appearance slipped away in a flurry of mistakes. Pegula, by contrast, was the picture of steadiness, winning her 14th match in her last 15 contests against American opponents.

“I felt like I could win the rallies and I could put pressure on her serves,” Pegula said, reflecting on her mindset during the tense moments of the second set. “I just told myself to gear right back up. You’ve got to win the tiebreak unless you want to go to a third set and I really didn’t want to.”

Pegula’s victory sets up a blockbuster semifinal against Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion and this year’s No. 5 seed. Rybakina, 26, has not dropped a set all tournament and powered past world No. 2 Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-2 earlier on the same day. The Kazakh’s calm demeanor and aggressive play were on full display as she fired 11 aces and 26 winners to end Swiatek’s dream of a career Grand Slam at Melbourne Park.

“In the beginning, when it’s the first final and you go so far in a tournament, of course you are more emotional,” Rybakina said after her win. “Now I feel like I’m just doing my job, trying to improve each day. So it’s kind of another day, another match.”

Swiatek, reflecting on her defeat, acknowledged her serving woes: “I didn’t serve as well as in Cincinnati, for example, against Elena. My serve was kind of normal and sometimes it could have given me a bit more. There’s some stuff on the serve that I want to change and I already changed that in the preseason. But then matches come and you don’t have that much time to think about this.”

Pegula and Rybakina have split their six previous meetings, each winning three times, adding another layer of intrigue to Thursday’s showdown. Both players are seeking to add a new chapter to their Grand Slam journeys: Pegula hunting her first major title, Rybakina aiming for her second after Wimbledon glory in 2022. Whoever prevails will likely face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who is set to play Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the other semifinal. Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, is widely regarded as the favorite to lift the trophy once again.

Pegula’s run to the semifinals is all the more impressive considering her recent history in Melbourne. After quarterfinal exits in 2021, 2022, and 2023, the American has finally found the formula to advance deeper. “I was the three- and then four-time quarter-finalist. I was, ‘It’s got to be coming, I’ve got to get to the semi’,” Pegula said, her relief and excitement evident.

For Anisimova, the loss marks a disappointing end to her quest for a third straight major final. Despite flashes of brilliance, her inability to control her errors and frustration proved costly. Yet, at just 24, she remains a formidable force on the tour and will look to regroup for the rest of the season.

As the Australian Open women’s singles draw narrows to its final four, all eyes will be on the Pegula-Rybakina clash. Both players bring powerful serves, relentless baseline play, and a hunger for Grand Slam hardware. With Pegula yet to drop a set in Melbourne and Rybakina in similarly formidable form, fans can expect an electrifying battle for a place in Saturday’s final.

The action at Melbourne Park is far from over, and with so much at stake, Thursday’s semifinals promise high drama and unforgettable tennis moments. Pegula’s breakthrough has already energized American fans, but she’ll need every ounce of her newfound confidence to topple the ever-steady Rybakina. One thing’s for sure: the path to the Australian Open title just got a lot more interesting.