Ukraine’s top tennis player, Elina Svitolina, has reached the semifinals of the Australian Open for the first time in her career, delivering a commanding performance against American Coco Gauff.
On Tuesday, January 27, Svitolina, Ukraine’s No. 1, defeated world No. 3 Gauff 6-1, 6-2 in a match that lasted less than an hour, leaving her opponent with little opportunity to respond.
This milestone marks a significant breakthrough for Svitolina, who had previously been stopped at the quarterfinal stage in Melbourne in 2018, 2019, and 2025. The victory also secures her return to the WTA top ten next week for the first time in five years. Her winning streak in the 2026 season now stands at 10 consecutive matches.
On her way to the historic semifinal, Svitolina defeated Kristina Buksha, Linda Klimovicova, and players from the aggressor country, Diana Schneider and Mirra Andreeva.
In the semifinals, Svitolina will face world No. 1 Arina Sabalenka, who is competing under a neutral status. In their previous encounters, Sabalenka holds a 5-1 head-to-head advantage.
