Pegula, chasing 1st Slam title, wins another all-American clash in Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — After three previous losses in Australian Open quarterfinals, Jessica Pegula defeated Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6 (1) on Wednesday to advance to the final four at Melbourne Park for the first time.

It marked Pegula's 14th win in her past 15 matches against fellow American opponents, continuing her strong run of domestic dominance.

In the earlier quarterfinal at Rod Laver Arena, Elena Rybakina defeated Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 to prevent the Polish player from completing a career Grand Slam of singles titles. Pegula will play Rybakina in one semifinal Thursday, while top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka will play Elina Svitolina in the other.

Pegula also beat Madison Keys, another American and the defending champion, in her previous match to advance to the quarterfinals.

Pegula is looking for her first Grand Slam title while Rybakina is after her second after winning Wimbledon in 2022.

Pegula was almost perfect in winning the first set and closed it out with an ace. The second set was much closer with each breaking the other twice.

"I've been waiting for the time when I can kind of break through," Pegula said of her semifinal appearance. "I feel like I really play some good tennis here and I like the conditions."

Pegula said she knew Anisimova would step up her play in the second set.

"I felt like I could win the rallies and I could put pressure on her serves," Pegula said. "I just told myself to gear right back up. You've got to win the tiebreak unless you want to go to a third set and I really didn't want to."

Rybakina and Pegula are 3-3 in head-to-head play.

Swiatek is a four-time French Open champion and has won the U.S. Open and Wimbledon. She was trying to become the 11th woman to complete a career Grand Slam.