AO 2026: First time feeling for Svitolina and Alcaraz

Svitolina soars into dreamland

Elina Svitolina put on an exhilarating exhibition of her major credentials to crush No.3 seed Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-2 to storm into a first ever Australian Open semi-final on Tuesday night.

Gone in just 59 minutes, the Ukrainian advances to meet to world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in her fourth major semi-final.

13 years after her debut Down Under, into her fourth season back from child birth, Svitolina has been rewarded with a live-ranking return to the Top 10 too.

“It means the world to me,” said the beaming former world No.3, who backed up victory over No.8 seed Mirra Andreeva in the Last 16.

“Very, very pleased with the tournament so far. Just happy to be in semis finally after so many years here, so many tries.

“It’s been my dream to come back to the Top 10 after maternity leave. Unfortunately it didn’t happen last year, I stopped in September, but when we were training in the off-season I was telling my coach this was the goal for this year.”

Svitolina, last in a major semi-final at Wimbledon 2023, has conjured up seven career victories over No.1 ranked opponents. Can the 31-year-old take that tally to eight on Thursday?

Sabalenka strikes to edge closer once again

2023 and 2024 Australian Open champion Sabalenka has a tongue-in-cheek good luck tradition of writing on her fitness trainer Jason Stacy’s head during their Melbourne title adventures.

This time out, the top seed scribbled “no pain, no gain,” which was pretty suitable because Sabalenka feels she has been forced to produce her best by teenage prodigies.

On Sunday, the world No.1 defied Canadian youngster Victoria Mboko 6-1, 7-6(1), before fending off American 18-year-old Iva Jovic 6-3, 6-0 in Tuesday’s quarter-final clash.

“These teenagers are testing me in the last couple of rounds,” said Sabalenka, shortly after securing a fourth successive Australian Open semi-final.

“Don’t look at the score, it wasn’t easy at all. She played incredible tennis, pushed me to … a better level. I’m super happy with the win, it was a tough battle.”

Into the semi-finals and Sabalenka is the favourite, having won her most recent duel with Svitolina 6-3, 7-5 at the Madrid WTA 1000 last year, take their head-to-head up to 5-1.

This tiger has her eyes solely on the top prize.

“I think every player when they get to the tournament is trophy or nothing. The mentality is the same, and it's always in the back of your mind that obviously you want to win it,” stated Sabalenka, who lost the AO 2025 final to Madison Keys.

“But I'm trying to shift my focus on the right things and taking it step by step and just trying my best in each match, each point, each game, each set. That's my mentality.”

Alcaraz breaks new ground Down Under

There is just one major absent from the Carlos Alcaraz trophy cabinet and he’s now just two steps away from a Career Grand Slam.

The world No.1 elevated his game once again to defeat home charge Alex de Minaur 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 to gain a debut trip into the Australian Open Final Four at the fifth attempt.

The 22-year-old made a breathtaking start, cracking a forehand winner down the line in the opening point. Within a flash the reigning Roland-Garros champion was 3-0 up, combining finesse and unplayable power.

Although de Minaur dug in with high risk, high reward tennis, to contribute to some riveting rallies in the first set, it simply wasn’t enough to keep apace with this generational talent.

A high-octane performance serves up a high-profile semi-final against No.3 seed Alexander Zverev on Friday.

"I'm happy with the way I am playing here. From the first round to now, I am increasing my level every match. My team told me after the first match that I have to be patient, my level I want to play is going to come,” revealed the Spaniard.

"Playing Alex is really difficult, you have to be focused on every ball. I started the match really well but he makes it so you are in a rush all the time. You have to hit every ball as hard as you can which is impossible against him.

“It’s going to be another great battle against Sascha (Zverev). I will need to increase my level. We practised together before the tournament and he beat me 7-6, so I know he’s playing great tennis.

“Me and my team, we’re going to be ready. I’m really looking forward to playing him again here and taking revenge.”

Then came the trademark Alcaraz grin… the world No.1 was referring to an Australian Open 2024 quarter-final defeat by Zverev.

Zverev returns to familiar territory

2025 runner-up Zverev managed to find the answers to navigate past American young gun Learner Tien 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1, 7-6(3) earlier on Tuesday to chalk up a 10th major semi-final.

56 winners, including 24 aces, propelled the German past 20-year-old Tien, the youngest player to reach the quarter-finals since Nick Kyrgios back in 2015.

“I don't think I've played anyone who plays that well from the baseline for a very, very long time,” said Zverev.  “I don't know what Michael Chang has done with him in the off-season, but the way he's playing, it's incredible.

“Without my 20 aces or something like that, I probably would not have won today. Obviously very happy with my serve, but just generally happy to be back in the semis.”

Zverev is still seeking his maiden Grand Slam title, after heartbreaking defeats in his previous three finals at US Open 2020, Roland-Garros 2024 and Australian Open 2025.

“You are just are looking forward to a fantastic match,” stated the No.3 seed, who is locked at 6-6 in battles across the net from Alcaraz.

“Of course, in my case, yeah, I'm still chasing that desired slam. Of course, I still want to achieve that, but I also want to enjoy my tennis. Right now I'm doing that, and that's the most important thing for me.”