MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — The Australian Open reaches a pivotal moment today, Thursday, January 29, 2026, with the much-anticipated Women’s Singles Semifinals dominating the schedule at Rod Laver Arena. After a gripping Day 11 that saw all main singles quarterfinal results decided, attention now turns to securing a place in Saturday’s final.
Day 11 Recap: Semifinalists Confirmed
Wednesday’s action produced clinical victories and high drama:
- Jannik Sinner continued his flawless run, defeating Ben Shelton in straight sets to book a mouth-watering semi-final clash with Novak Djokovic, who advanced after Lorenzo Musetti retired injured.
- Jessica Pegula broke new ground, reaching her first Australian Open semi-final after defeating fellow American Amanda Anisimova.
- Elena Rybakina defeated Iga Świątek to advance.
Today’s Order of Play: Women’s Semifinals (Jan 29)
Day 12 focuses exclusively on the final four women competing for the chance to lift the trophy. All matches will be played in the Rod Laver Arena twilight session, starting from 7:00 PM local time (AEDT).Time (AEDT) MatchupVenue7:30 PMAryna Sabalenka (1) vs. Elina Svitolina (12)Rod Laver ArenaFollowing MatchJessica Pegula (6) vs. Elena Rybakina (5)Rod Laver Arena
Semifinal Previews
Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elina Svitolina
World No. 1 Sabalenka has been the dominant force of the tournament, continuing her title-winning form by cruising through her matches, including a 6-1, 6-2 quarterfinal victory over Coco Gauff. She faces Elina Svitolina, who is aiming to reach her first Grand Slam final and continues to find power in her performance. The rivalry between these two is heating up, promising a high-stakes encounter.
Jessica Pegula vs. Elena Rybakina
This clash of seeds features two powerful players. Pegula comes in confident after her all-American win against Anisimova, finally breaking through to the semi-final stage. She faces Rybakina, a former Wimbledon champion with a powerful serve-focused game, who pulled away in the end to defeat Świątek in the quarterfinals. This promises to be a tight contest of power and consistency.
