Reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina kept her hopes for a second Grand Slam title alive by cruising into the Australian Open semifinals for the first time after triumphing in a battle of former major champions on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 22nd seed overpowered the 2017 Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-2, 6-4 in the one hour and 19 minutes encounter here at Rod Laver Arena, becoming the first woman representing Kazakhstan to reach the final four at Melbourne Park.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ostapenko had dominated her head-to-head with the Kazakh player in the past. But on Tuesday, it was Rybakina who maintained her momentum from her upset of World No.1 Iga Swiatek two days ago.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rybakina secured a break in the opening game and dropped just one point in her first two service games. Her return game was deadly against Ostapenko, and with a cool demeanour, she punished the Latvian's laggardly second serves.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Returning from a brief rain delay, the Kazakh clinched a double break advantage as she overpowered her opponent. Rybakina closed out the opening set when an Ostapenko forehand return sailed long.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Latvian began to find her targets in the second set after breaking her opponent for a 2-0 lead. But an unfazed Rybakina quickly turned the tables against her rival, nabbing the next four games and saving four break points in the process.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ostapenko produced flashes of brilliance, but it was her younger foe who has better-harnessed power and precision with a semifinals berth in sight. Stepping up to the baseline, Rybakina slammed down an ace to take victory on her third match point.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The conditions were different, but we expect that it can happen in Australia - you never know in the morning it's one weather, then in a few hours it changes," Rybakina said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"You have to be ready always. That's the beauty of the sport, everybody needs to adapt and I think I did really well from the beginning of the match then continued through the first set."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rybakina will have to stare down another big name in the semifinals. Her semifinal opponent will be decided in a titanic showdown between the third seed Jessica Pegula, the highest-ranked player remaining in the draw, and the two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"You have to be ready always. That's the beauty of the sport, everybody needs to adapt and I think I did really well from the beginning of the match then continued through the first set."<\/p>\r\n\r\n