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Elena Rybakina* (5) 5-4 Iga Swiatek (2) Swiatek smashes a backhand return into the net to fall behind and then is rendered a spectator when Rybakina thunders a forehand winner across the court to make it 30-15. Swiatek’s power gradually gives her the advantage across a 14-shot rally she takes when a big overhead smash forces an error. But an unforced error gives Swiatek back impetus and she then secures the hold with an ace.
Elena Rybakina (5) 4-4 Iga Swiatek* (2) Swiatek forces Rybakina into back-to-back errors to move ahead but surrenders the next point when she loops a forehand well beyond the baseline. A neat return from the fifth seed then induces her opponent to skid a backhand into the net but her attempt to land a forehand return in the corner on the next point goes long.
A serve blasted down the T proves unreturnable, giving Swiatek the hold.
Elena Rybakina* (5) 4-3 Iga Swiatek (2) A superb backhand winner laced down the line gives Rybakina the first point, setting the stage for her to race through and claim the first hold to love of the contest.
Elena Rybakina (5) 3-3 Iga Swiatek* (2) Swiatek sends a backhand long to give up the first point but powers back to take the next two. Rybakina meets a poorly-placed drop shot with a vicious backhand winner to level things at 30-30 but the Pole fires down her first ace of the game to move back ahead. After a good serve down the T, Swiatek then moves Rybakina as she gets to the net and induces an error to claim the hold.
Elena Rybakina* (5) 3-2 Iga Swiatek (2) The duo exchange points as the game moves to 30-30, before a backhand dragged wide by Swiatek gives the opening to secure the hold Rybakina. After a brief baseline exchange, Swiatek is sent deep and forced into a forehand that looks to go just high and wide, giving the hold to the fifth seed.
Elena Rybakina (5) 2-2 Iga Swiatek* (2) A more straightforward, but not altogether simple, hold for Swiatek.
She moves out to a 40-0 lead early on – securing her first forehand winner of the match in the process – only to be pegged back to 40-30 by Rybakina. But a serve whipped straight into Rybakina cramps her, preventing a return and giving Swiatek the hold.
Elena Rybakina* (5) 2-1 Iga Swiatek (2) Rybakina produces the first hold of the game but, gee, she had to work for it.
Swiatek races out of the blocks to bring up three break points but Rybakina rallied, firing down an ace, inducing a forehand error, and launching an unreturnable serve to bring up deuce. The fifth seed takes the first advantage only to be pegged back by Swiatek, but finally secures the hold after a forced and unforced error from the Pole.
Elena Rybakina (5) 1-1 Iga Swiatek* (2) And Rybakina breaks right back! Good stuff.
A lengthy baseline exchange ends with Swiatek sending down an overhead smash that Rybakina can’t return but the Kazakhstani levels things when the second seed is forced into a backhand error. The pair exchange points once more to bring it up to 30-30 before Rybakina brings up a break point of her own when Swiatek lifts a baseline backhand long.
Rybakina drags a baseline forehand wide to surrender the initiative and bring up deuce, takes it back when Swiatek again goes long from the baseline, and surrenders it once more with an unforced error.
But finally, the fifth seed gets her break: moving to the net and securing a third attempt with a big overhead forehand and then watching on as an unforced error from a Swiatek backhand levels things.
Rybakina and Swiatek are under way on Rod Laver
Elena Rybakina* (5) 0-1 Iga Swiatek (2) Swiatek breaks Rybakina to start the quarterfinal!
A good first serve from Rybakina gets Swiatek stretching and unable to register a return for the match’s first point. But the Pole answers back with two strong backhand winners to move ahead and then forces an error to bring up two break points, the first of which she converts with another backhand winner to move ahead.
Both Elena Rybakina (5) and Iga Swiatek (2) have made their way out onto Rod Laver Arena, with the cooler conditions ensuring the roof is open and the sun streaming onto the court.
In a Fashion Files update, Rybakina has opted for a white visor, white top, and white skirt, while Swiatek is wearing a purple cap, white top with black and purple detailing, a black skirt, and white shoes.
Mercifully for both the players and my air conditioning bill, after yesterday’s scorcher, the temperature has dipped sharply at Olympic Park today.
24 hours on from highs hitting as much as 45°C, the Bureau of Meteorology currently has temperatures sitting at 21.9°C, with a high of 24°C forecast for later today.
A sudden swings of 20°C in a single day? That’s Melbourne, baby.
Yesterday also proved a frustrating one for Coco Gauff (3), who was blown away in straight sets by Elina Svitolina (12), setting up a meeting between the Ukrainian and Aryna Sabalenka (1), who easily handled Iva Jovic (29) earlier in the day, in the semifinals.
Angry with her performance, Gauff smashed her racquet on a concrete ramp away leading from Rod Laver Arena, unaware that she was being recorded by a nearby camera. The American went on to express frustration that broadcasters had seen fit to distribute the moment of vulnerability, stating that she felt players had fewer and fewer areas of privacy at major tournaments.
The big story from last night, definitely from a local perspective, was Australia’s own Alex de Minaur (6) going down in straight sets to world number one Carlos Alcaraz (1), as recapped by Jack Snape.
de Minaur had entered Tuesday evening’s clash playing some of the best tennis of his career but, yet again, he ran into the glass ceiling of a Grand Slam quarterfinal – Tumaini Carayol there to break down how Alcaraz simply had too much, too many weapons, for ‘The Demon’.
Preamble
Joey Lynch
Howdy y’all, it’s ya boi Joey Lynch once again, getting set to bring you more of the Guardian’s live coverage of the Australian Open.
And we’re in for a treat this morning, with Elena Rybakina (5) and Iga Swiatek (2) meeting in a women’s quarterfinal out on Rod Laver Arena at 11.30 local time (so starting in about 15 minutes or so), followed by an all-American showdown between Jessica Pegula (6) and Amanda Anisimova (4).
Men’s singles will follow later in the arvo and the evening, with Lorenzo Musetti (5) and Novak Djokovic (4) locking horns on centre court no earlier than 2.30 local time, followed by a prime-time showdown between Ben Shelton (8) and Jannik Sinner (2).
The men’s and women’s doubles are also reaching the pointy end – sixth seeded men’s duo Christian Harrison and Neal Skupski already in action agianst Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl – and there’s wheelchair tennis taking place as well.
A big day. Let’s get started.
