Melbourne, January 28, 2026 – Sixth seed Jessica Pegula advanced to the semifinals of the Australian Open on Wednesday after securing a straight-sets victory over fellow American Amanda Anisimova in a high-profile quarterfinal clash at Rod Laver Arena.
The 2024 US Open finalist continued her strong Grand Slam run with a 6-2, 7-6(1) win, sealing the match in one hour and 35 minutes. Pegula delivered an impressive performance, striking 20 winners to halt Anisimova’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive Grand Slam final.
Pegula dominated the opening set with aggressive baseline play and sharp returns. Although Anisimova mounted a strong comeback in the second set—showcasing the form that carried her past China’s Wang Xinyu in the fourth round—Pegula held her nerve in the tiebreak to close out the contest.
“I’ve gone deep at the US Open before, but I really enjoy playing here and feel comfortable with the conditions,” Pegula said after the match.
The American entered the quarterfinal with renewed confidence after ending Madison Keys’ title defense earlier in the tournament. Despite failing to serve out the match in the 12th game of the second set, Pegula quickly regrouped and dominated the tiebreak.
She will now face Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the semifinals. Rybakina caused a major upset earlier in the day by defeating second seed Iga Swiatek in straight sets, setting up a blockbuster semifinal encounter as Pegula continues her pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam title.