With both stars coming through their fourth-round matches, Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina will now meet for the 12th time in the Australian Open quarterfinals.
Rybakina booked her place in the last eight after earning her fourth consecutive straight-set victory of the tournament against Elise Mertens, winning 6-1, 6-3.
Meanwhile, Swiatek advanced by dominating Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis 6-0, 6-3, to continue her pursuit of a Career Grand Slam at Melbourne Park.
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The Pole currently leads the head-to-head 6-5, but Rybakina emerged victorious in their last meeting, which came at the 2025 WTA Finals.
Ahead of their clash in the last eight, the Kazakh star suggested she knows exactly what to do in order to battle past the six-time major champion.
Elena Rybakina previews her match with Iga Swiatek in Melbourne
“We played many times,” said Rybakina of Swiatek in her post-match press conference after beating Mertens.
“Of course, I know that I need to stay aggressive and go for my shots.”
The two have played before at the Australian Open, with Rybakina overcoming Swiatek in the fourth round at the 2023 edition of the Grand Slam.
“When we played here (in 2023), it was I think also hot, so the ball was flying,” Rybakina recalled. “Yeah, we will see what’s going to be the conditions, who is going to win.
“But definitely focus for me is my serve, stay aggressive, and yeah, let’s see what’s going to happen.”
Elena Rybakina discusses her incredible recent record
Rybakina has been in incredible form since the back end of last season, having won 17 of the last 18 matches she has played in.
- 2025 Ningbo Open: Four wins – champion
- 2025 Japan Open: Two wins – withdrew before playing semifinal
- 2025 WTA Finals: Five wins – champion
- 2026 Brisbane International: Two wins – lost in the quarterfinals
- 2026 Australian Open: Four wins so far
However, the 26-year-old seemed to have dismissed her hot streak in October and November.
“I don’t think at all about the last matches I played last year, because for our sport it’s quite long time, already past,” said Rybakina.
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“I’m focusing every day on my practices, on what I need to improve, how I feel, what we need to adjust, maybe, et cetera.
“It’s not really about the wins which I had. It’s great to remember, but we just need to work and, yeah, do the things each day”
Rybakina is seeded fifth at this year’s Australian Open and is bidding to win her second Grand Slam title.
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