Australian Open 2023 results: Elena Rybakina beats Jelena Ostapenko to reach semi-finals

Elena Rybakina advances to the semifinals.

Elena Rybakina, the Wimbledon winner, easily defeated Jelena Ostapenko to go to her maiden semi-final at the Australian Open.

Rybakina defeated Latvia’s Ostapenko with a commanding 6-2 6-4 victory because to her 11 aces and 24 winners.

After a protracted rain delay on Rod Laver Arena, the Kazakh secured victory in one hour and 19 minutes.

Rybakina, seeded 22nd, will compete for a spot in the championship match against either Victoria Azarenka or world number three Jessica Pegula of the United States.

“I’m super happy to be in the semi-finals for the first time,” said Rybakina, the youngest player left in the women’s draw.

“Of course I was nervous, especially in the last game. I’m super happy I managed the emotions and I played really well today.”

Elena unexpectedly won Wimbledon, the most important championship in her career, but because ranking points were not given out at the grass court major, she fell to 25th in the world, where she now sits.

She later admitted that she didn’t feel like a Grand Slam winner and started her Melbourne campaign on court 13 rather than a display court.

Her remarkable victory over the first seed Iga Swiatek at Melbourne Park was followed by a devastating performance against 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko.

In a matchup featuring two of the three major champions still in the final eight, Rybakina got off to a strong start by breaking Ostapenko, the 17th seed, in the first game.

Before play was halted by rain in game five, she created another opportunity with her forceful shot-making. She returned after a short wait to secure a double break advantage and serve out the set under cover.

Ostapenko threatened a fightback with a break at the start of set two but Rybakina swiftly extinguished those hopes, recording successive breaks in reply to bring her second major semi-final into focus.

She went on to seal the match in fitting fashion, sending down a final ace to extend her tournament-leading tally to 35.

She added: “I will watch my opponents [tonight] but at the same time I need to rest and prepare for another tough match and battle.”