Australian Open Shocks: Swiatek and Gauff Fall in Stunning Quarterfinal Upsets
The Australian Open has witnessed a seismic shift in the women’s draw, as both World No. 2 Iga Swiatek and No. 3 Coco Gauff were unexpectedly eliminated in the quarterfinals. The dramatic turn of events unfolded within a mere 18 hours, leaving the tournament wide open and sending shockwaves through the tennis world.
Early Exits Signal a New Era at Melbourne Park
Coco Gauff’s campaign came to an abrupt end on Tuesday night, falling to 12th seed Elina Svitolina in under an hour with a score of 1-6, 2-6. Less than 24 hours later, Swiatek suffered a similarly decisive defeat, losing to former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina 5-7, 1-6 in just an hour and 35 minutes. The back-to-back losses of these two Grand Slam champions represent a significant upset, removing a combined eight major titles from contention.
Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion having secured victories at the 2023 US Open and the 2025 French Open, and Swiatek, with four French Open titles alongside wins at Wimbledon and the US Open, were considered strong contenders for the Australian Open title. Their combined elimination signifies a dramatic reshaping of the tournament landscape. The victories by Svitolina and Rybakina effectively removed the winners of numerous prestigious tournaments – the 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 French Opens, the 2022 and 2023 US Opens, and the 2025 Wimbledon – from the competition.
Rybakina’s Dominance and Sabalenka’s Advance
Elena Rybakina’s victory over Swiatek marked a repeat performance, having previously defeated the Polish star at the 2023 WTA Finals. The head-to-head record between the two now stands at six wins apiece. “We know each other pretty well and I was just trying to stay aggressive,” Rybakina stated after the match. “I feel like in the first set for both of us, the first serve was not really working. So we were trying to step in on the second serve, put pressure on each other, and I think in the second I just started to play more free, served better. I’m just really happy with the win.”
Rybakina is now aiming to surpass her previous best result at the Australian Open, where she finished as the runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka in 2023. Sabalenka advanced to the semi-finals with a commanding win over 18-year-old Iva Jovic on Tuesday and will face Svitolina in a rematch of a previous final.
In the other semi-final, Rybakina will face Jessica Pegula, who secured her place in the last four with a 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) victory over compatriot Amanda Anisimova. Pegula overcame a mid-match deficit, battling back from 5-3 down in the second set to ultimately dominate the tiebreak, losing only one point. This marks her first appearance in the semi-finals at Melbourne Park.
Fan Reaction and the Shifting Dynamics of Women’s Tennis
The ease with which Svitolina and Rybakina dispatched the second and third-ranked women’s players has left tennis fans stunned. Social media platforms buzzed with reactions, with one fan commenting, “Really thought one of Iga and Coco would at least make the semis but they both got outplayed BAD.” Another observer noted, “Iga and Coco losing in straight sets was not on my bingo card.”
The unexpected outcomes at the Australian Open underscore the increasing competitiveness and unpredictability of women’s tennis, signaling a potential shift in the established order. The tournament continues to deliver thrilling matches and captivating storylines as it heads towards its climactic final rounds.
