Wimbledon champion Elina Rybakina became the first player to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open by defeating Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 6-4 in a one-sided contest on Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday.
The Russian-born Kazakh looked sharp from the start and only a 25-minute delay in closing the stadium roof against a passing shower prevented her from wrapping up the opening set within half an hour of arriving on court.
Former French Open champion Ostapenko looked unable to match the pace and power of the big-serving Rybakina in the opening stanza but extended her own powerful groundstrokes to break a 2-0 lead early in the second.
Rybakina, who knocked out favorite Iga Swiatek in the fourth round, however, broke back straight and won a second-set arm wrestle to book a meeting with American Jessica Pegula or two-time Melbourne Park champion Victoria Azarenka. received
(Tags translated) Elena Rybakina (T) Australian Open (T) Jelena Ostapenko