The last four semi-final spots of the 2026 Australian Open will be up for grabs on Day 11, with four Grand Slam champions who have won a total of 35 Grand Slam titles competing to qualify.
Scroll down to see the matchup.
See the full day schedule for Day 11 here
Swiatek and Rybakina face off for the 12th time
Get ready for the 12th classic showdown on the court where Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina will meet for the first time in 2023.
Rybakina won their last-16 battle to reach her first and only Australian Open final, and the pair have been making hay ever since, including their last Grand Slam meeting on clay at Roland Garros last spring, where Swiatek won a dramatic 7-5 in the third set.
Swiatek said the meetings were not as convincing as experts thought. In the ever-changing landscape of women’s tennis, the here and now is what matters.
“I wouldn’t say head-to-head matches matter because it’s always tight even if one of us wins or she beats me easily,” the Pole said with a laugh. “It doesn’t matter. There’s no point in overanalyzing who won the last game or the circumstances of the game. Every game is a different story.
“Like in every match, she’s a tough opponent and her tennis is really good. I just need to be 100 percent ready and keep working hard, using my experience and knowledge from previous matches, that’s all.”
Swiatek also downplayed media interest in her bid for a career Grand Slam. The six-time major champion is on her way to becoming the third youngest woman ever to achieve the feat, but said she doesn’t mind. She only cares about process and preparation, nothing more.
(Another) All-American Battle
It was a great game for the American women, and we have to say: When has anything ever been so surprising? There’s always someone carrying the torch for American women, and now there’s been an American woman in each of the past five major finals.
Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova are both ready to build on their title push in Melbourne in what promises to be a tight contest in their fourth career meeting. Pegula won all three of the pair’s matches, but Anisimova pushed her to three sets in the final two matches.
“It’s crazy how good these women are and how many top girls there are. I’m excited to be a part of this conversation,” Pegula said.
Anisimova, who has won 16 of the past 18 Grand Slam matches, is well aware of Pegula’s unique strengths.
“I know her game very well now,” Anisimova said when asked what makes Pegula a difficult opponent for her.
“I would say it’s just because she gets a lot of the ball back. Yeah, she can challenge any of the top guys. She’s obviously on top for a reason… I feel like I always have a chance against anybody… I don’t think I’ve ever beaten her before, so that’s an extra challenge for me.”
Novak is rested and ready
Not sure it’s possible to underestimate the importance of simplicity in Novak Djokovic’s case. In recent years, he spent so much energy getting into the later rounds that he eventually burned out when he faced his biggest challenge in the Grand Slam semifinals. It happened four times last year, and he fell short four times.
But this year in Australia, Djokovic won all nine sets he played and even got a few extra days off when Jakub Mencic exited the pair’s fourth-round match with an abdominal injury. If any player knows what an extra 48 hours of preparation entails, it’s the meticulous Djokovic. This is Novak Djokovic’s latest before the Grand Slam quarterfinals, and if he can use his clear advantage (see 9-1 career record) against Musetti in the quarterfinals, he might have a chance to do some damage to Sinner in the semifinals.
No guarantees, but the perfect setup is in place.
Musetti, meanwhile, was in fine form heading into the quarterfinals. He wasn’t known for his hard-court prowess or fitness over the past few years, but he’s made up for those weaknesses and looked more of a threat on faster surfaces and in the majors. His eleventh meeting with Djokovic should be a good one.
Can Sheldon break through the wall?
Three of Ben Shelton’s last four Grand Slam losses have been to Jannik Sinner (twice) or Carlos Alcaraz. The other one was Adrian Mannarino who joined last year’s U.S. Open, but that was due to a shoulder injury and his retirement. What is the moral of this story? To be the best, you have to beat the best, and this is another chance for the 23-year-old southpaw to prove he belongs as a disruptor in the men’s game.
Sinner knocked out Shelton in straight sets in the Melbourne semifinals last year and he didn’t back down from his position, especially against Shelton. After losing the first meeting between the two, the Italian won the last 19 sets against the former Florida Gator, so even a set win for Shelton in this match would be a win.
Sinner had great difficulties in his third-round match against American Elliott Spitzri, mainly due to the sweltering heat in Melbourne, but he was saved by the heat rule, which gave him time to recover during the roof closure and after the third set in which he won in four sets. He was impressive in beating compatriot Luciano Dadri in the round of 16, and he’s getting better with every passing round in the majors.
It’s Shelton’s responsibility to ruffle the four-time Grand Slam champion’s feathers. It’s not going to be easy against a talented player who has won his last 18 games at Melbourne Park.
