Pegula comments on upcoming semifinal clash with Rybakina at AO 2026

Kazakhstan’s top-ranked tennis player Elena Rybakina (World No. 5) will face American Jessica Pegula (6) in the semifinals of the Australian Open 2026. In anticipation of the match, the American player pointed out the strengths of her Kazakhstani opponent.

«She has a massive serve, big groundies, cool as a cucumber, you get nothing out of her. And she’s been playing some great tennis, honestly since the end of last year. But I’m going to do my best to hopefully crack the code on her for the next round and we’ll see how it goes,» WTA cited Pegula as saying.

The head-to-head record between Rybakina and Pegula is 3-3. Pegula won their first match in Miami in 2022, but Rybakina was stronger in their latest clash — the semifinals of the WTA Finals Riyadh 2025.

The match for a place in the AO 2026 final between Rybakina and Pegula will take place on Jan. 29.

In the quarterfinals, the Kazakhstani tennis player defeated Poland’s Iga Świątek 7-5, 6-1. Pegula, in her run, beat Amanda Anisimova (4) 6-2, 7-6.