The 2026 Australian Open semifinals are set, after a round of quarterfinals teeming with upsets sent three top seeds packing.
World No. 3 Coco Gauff opened the floodgates early Tuesday morning, falling to No. 12 Elina Svitolina 6-1, 6-2, as the 31-year-old Ukrainian advanced to her first-ever Australian Open semifinal.
Gauff wasn't the round's only victim, however, as No. 2 Iga Świątek saw her career slam dreams deferred at the hands of No. 5 Elena Rybakina in a 7-5, 6-1 Tuesday evening result.
The Melbourne Grand Slam's US contingent ultimately dwindled from four quarterfinalists down to one on Tuesday night, when No. 6 Jessica Pegula ousted fellow US star No. 4 Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6(1) to reach her first-ever Australian Open semifinal.
"It's awesome," the 31-year-old said after the win. "I feel like I play really good tennis here…. I've been waiting for the time when I can break through."
Only No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka avoided falling to a lower seed, defeating US teenager No. 27 Iva Jović in tidy fashion 6-3, 6-0 on Monday.
How to watch the 2026 Australian Open semifinals
The 2026 Australian Open semis start at 3:30 AM ET on Thursday, with No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka facing No. 12 Elina Svitolina before No. 6 Jessica Pegula takes on No. 5 Elena Rybakina in the following match.
Both semifinals will air live on ESPN.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka continued her 2026 Australian Open title campaign early Tuesday, defeating 18-year-old US tennis star Iva Jović 6-2, 6-3.
The victory advances the 27-year-old to the Grand Slam's semifinals. There she remains the favorite after several top seeds — including No. 3 Coco Gauff and defending champion Madison Keys — fell in earlier rounds.
In the quarterfinal match, Sabalenka used her trademark power to overwhelm her teenage opponent. The Belarusian broke started strong and maintained a high level of aggression throughout. Playing in her first career Grand Slam quarterfinal, Jović struggled to find an answer for the veteran's depth and velocity.
"The second set, I felt like I had to step in and put even more pressure on her," Sabalenka said postmatch. "Because I can see that she's young, she's hungry, and I could tell during the match that no matter the score, she's still going to be there trying."
"These teenagers have tested me in the last couple of rounds — incredible player," she continued, singing Jović's praises. "It was a tough match. Don't look at the score. She played incredible tennis and she pushed me to a one-step better level. It was a battle."
Sabalenka now prepares for a semifinal matchup against Ukraine’s No. 12 Elina Svitolina. Svitolina advanced earlier on Tuesday after defeating Coco Gauff in straight sets. Sabalenka holds a 5-1 head-to-head advantage over Svitolina, and has yes to drop a set this tournament.
With Madison Keys out of the draw, Sabalenka remains the only former Australian Open champion remaining in the women's singles bracket.
How to watch Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open semifinals
The Australian Open semifinals kick off tomorrow, as Sabalenka takes on Svitolina live on ESPN (timing TBD).
US tennis star Coco Gauff called for increased player privacy after cameras captured her smashing her racket following her quarterfinal exit from the 2026 Australian Open.
World No. 2 Coco Gauff suffered a 6-1, 6-2 defeat to Ukraine’s No. 12 Elina Svitolina in Tuesday’s fourth-round match. The clash lasted 59 minutes, with Gauff struggling to find her rhythm throughout the contest. The 21-year-old finished with just three winners while racking up 26 unforced errors and serving five double-faults.
Following the loss, Gauff attempted to find a secluded area to vent her frustrations. Tournament cameras followed her, filming as she repeatedly smashed her racket on the ground. The footage spread quickly across social media.
Addressing the incident afterward, Coco Gauff argued that such raw, emotional moments should not be treated as public entertainment.
"Certain moments — the same thing happened to Aryna [Sabalenka] after I played her in the final of the US Open — I feel like they don’t need to broadcast," Gauff said, referencing No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka's post-2023 US Open meltdown.
"So maybe some conversations can be had. Because I feel like, at this tournament, the only private place we have is the locker room."
Gauff explained that she avoids lashing out in front of fans, saying some things should remain off-limits to broadcasters.
"I know I’m emotional, so I just took the minute to go and do that," she continued. "I try not to do it on-court in front of kids and things like that. But I do know I need to let out that emotion."
Despite her technical struggles, Coco Gauff remained focused on the future. She stressed scrapping out wins on bad days, citing US tennis icon Serena Williams as inspiration when handling difficult matches.
Meanwhile, Svitolina moves on to face Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals.
What's next for Coco Gauff after her 2026 Australian Open ousting
The WTA Calendar next turns to the Middle East Swing, with Gauff expected to join the field at the 2026 Qatar Open.
The WTA 1000 Doha tournament starts February 8th, live on Tennis Channel.
The US is flooding the quarterfinals of the 2026 Australian Open, with half of eight women still standing in the Grand Slam representing the United States.
World No. 3 Coco Gauff, No. 4 Amanda Anisimova, No. 6 Jessica Pegula, and No. 27 Iva Jović all advanced from the weekend's fourth round, joining No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 2 Iga Świątek, No. 5 Elena Rybakina, and No. 12 Elina Svitolina in Monday and Tuesday's quarterfinals.
"I'm just trusting the level that I have been able to put out and hopefully that will be enough," 18-year-old Jović said as she gears up for her Monday night clash with Sabalenka — a two-time winner (2023, 2024) of the Melbourne Slam.
Pegula's success, meanwhile, came at the expense of her US teammate and the reigning Australian Open champion, No. 9 Madison Keys, whom she ousted in straight sets in the Round of 16 on Sunday.
Even more, Pegula's quarterfinal matchup will again feature friendly fire as she takes on Anisimova on Tuesday night.
"Sucks that one American has to go out in the quarterfinals," Anisimova said. "Jess is such a great player, so I'm sure it's going to be a great battle."
How to watch the 2026 Australian Open quarterfinals
The Australian Open quarterfinals start at 7:30 PM ET on Monday, when No. 27 Jović takes on No. 1 Sabalenka before No. 3 Gauff's 3 AM ET Tuesday matchup with No. 12 Svitolina.
No. 6 Pegula's clash with No. 4 Anisimova, as well as No. 5 Rybakina vs. No. 2 Świątek will close out the quarterfinals early Wednesday morning.
All matches from the Melbourne Slam air live across ESPN platforms.
Tennis star Alexandra Eala delivered a masterclass in her professional home debut today, defeating Russia’s Alina Charaeva 6-1, 6-2 to advance to the second round of the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open.
In front of a packed crowd at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center, the 20-year-old Filipina star — currently world No. 49 in the WTA rankings — showed why she is the tournament's second seed. Eala needed just over an hour to dismantle Charaeva, avenging her 2020 W15 Melilla Open loss to the Russian.
The match began with Eala using her signature aggressive forehand to dictate rallies and secure the first set 6-1. Shortly afterwards, Charaeva went on to jump to a 2-0 lead in the second set, as Eala appeared to struggle with movement, eventually calling for a medical timeout to treat cramping in her right thigh.
Returning with her leg taped, Eala roared back to win six consecutive games. She subsequently closed out the match with a powerful down-the-line winner. (See full highlights)
"I just want to thank everyone for being here," Eala told fans during her post-match interview. "I’ve been dreaming of this moment for a long time. Playing at home is a highlight of my career."
The Philippine Women’s Open marks the first time the country has hosted a WTA 125 event, a milestone largely attributed to Eala’s recent international success. Her victory in Manilla provides a boost to the growing local tennis community.
Eala now moves into the Round of 16, where she will face either Japan’s Nao Hibino or Himeno Sakatsume. The Filipina ace remains the favorite to contend for the historic title on her home court.
How to watch Alexandra Eala at the Philippine Women's Open
The WTA 125 tournament continues through the week, streaming live on WTA Unlocked’s 125Live.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has once again merged high fashion with elite athletics, debuting a custom "jellyfish-inspired" kit during the opening rounds of the 2026 Australian Open.
The outfit, a collaboration between Nike and London-based designer Robert Wun, immediately went viral following the world No. 17's first-round victory over Croatia's Antonia Ružić.
The avant-garde walk-on look featured a turquoise and green tie-dye palette, characterized by organic, wavy ruffles designed to mimic the movement of jellyfish tentacles. The multi-piece configuration included a zip-up jacket with cascading tendrils, a pleated miniskirt layered over wide-leg trousers, and a dramatic wide-brimmed hat complete with a sheer white veil and matching parasol.
Osaka later revealed her two-year-old daughter Shai inspired the concept. While reading a marine life storybook together, Osaka noticed her daughter's interest in a jellyfish illustration. That led her to translate the visual into her 2026 tournament aesthetic.
"It felt symbolic of energy, transformation, and excitement," Osaka told reporters. She went on to describe the design as representing "the birth of something new" in both her career and journey as a mother.
The outfit also featured two delicate white butterflies — one fixed to her hat and another to her parasol. These served as a reference to the 2021 Australian Open, when a butterfly famously landed on Osaka’s face during her title-winning run.
On the court, Osaka has backed the bold style with strong performances. She secured a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win over Antonia Ružić in her opening match on January 20th, followed by a hard-fought 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 victory against Sorana Cirstea on January 22nd.
How to watch Naomi Osaka at the 2026 Australian Open
Osaka is scheduled to face Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis in the Australian Open's third round. The pair will meet early Saturday morning at 4:40 AM ET.
All 2026 Australian Open matches air live across ESPN platforms.
The next generation of tennis stars are on the rise, with youth-powered upsets rattling this week's third round of the 2026 Australian Open.
No. 8 Jasmine Paolini became the season's first fallen Top 10 contender, as the Italian standout fell 6-2, 7-6(3) to US 18-year-old and world No. 27 Iva Jović early Friday morning.
No. 14 Clara Tauson and No. 10 Belinda Bencic also bowed out of the Melbourne Grand Slam thanks to a pair of 19-year-olds, with Canada's No. 16 Victoria Mboko and Czechia's No. 126 Nikola Bartunkova ousting the Danish and Swiss stars, respectively, on Thursday to advance to this weekend's fourth round.
Even more, Mboko and Bartunkova were two of five teenagers featuring in the Grand Slam's third round, as the WTA establishment clashed with its future.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old star Coco Gauff survived a three-set scare against fellow US talent No. 70 Hailey Baptiste, with the world No. 3 eventually reaching her fourth straight Australian Open Round of 16 behind Thursday's 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 come-from-behind win.
"On the serve, I was just trying to be aggressive with my placement and not be too passive," Gauff said postmatch. "Honestly, I'm out there trying to figure out that balance along with everybody else."
How to watch the 2026 Australian Open
The third round of the 2026 Australian Open wraps on Friday night, with WTA stars like No. 2 Iga Świątek, No. 4 Amanda Anisimova, and No. 17 Naomi Osaka all aiming to advance.
Friday's action kicks off with defending champion No. 9 Madison Keys taking on Czechia's Karolína Plíšková while fellow US standout No. 6 Jessica Pegula faces No. 101 Oksana Selekhmeteva at 6:30 PM ET.
All matches from the Melbourne Slam air live across ESPN platforms.
Naomi Osaka advanced to the third round of the 2026 Australian Open with a three-set victory over Sorana Cirstea on Thursday.
But the hard-fought win was overshadowed by a heated exchange at the net and a subsequent public apology from the former Japanese fan favorite.
After Osaka defeated the unseeded 35-year-old 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 at Margaret Court Arena, the two shared a tense handshake before Cirstea reportedly called Osaka out for her on-court conduct. The issue apparently centered on Osaka’s habit of shouting "Come on!" to celebrate points, specifically between Cirstea’s first and second serves — a move the Romanian considered both a distraction and a breach of sportsmanship.
In her immediate postmatch interview, Osaka dismissed Cirstea's complaints.
"Apparently a lot of 'come-ons' that she was angry about, but whatever," Osaka said. "I think this was her last Australian Open, so, okay, sorry she was mad about it."
However, during her subsequent press conference, Osaka apologized for her dismissive tone.
"I'm a little confused. I guess that emotions were very high for her," Osaka said. " I also want to apologize. I think the first couple of things that I said on the court were disrespectful. I don't like disrespecting people. That's not what I do."
Osaka went on to clarify that her vocal outbursts are self-motivating and not an attempt to rattle her opponent.
Cirstea, who recently announced that the 2026 season will be her last on the WTA Tour, later downplayed the incident. She called it a "five-second exchange between two players," insisting that "there was no drama."
Osaka, the No. 16 seed, will next face unseeded Australian Maddison Inglis in the third round on Friday.
How to watch Naomi Osaka at the Australian Open this week
No. 16 Naomi Osaka takes the court against Australia's Maddison Inglis this Friday (time TBA), live on ESPN.
While competing at the 2026 Australian Open this week, US tennis star Coco Gauff is giving back to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), with the world No. 3 WTA player announcing a $150,000 donation to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to fund HBCU tennis scholarships on Tuesday.
"Education has the power to change lives, and I hope this gift will help students achieve their dreams," said Gauff in a Tuesday statement.
Even more, this week's donation marks the two-time Grand Slam champion's second UNCF contribution in as many years, with her $100,000 pledge in 2025 bringing Gauff's total gift to $250,000.
"I feel like HBCU tennis a lot of times doesn't get the funding that they need," Gauff said after advancing to Thursday night's Australian Open third round. "I would always try to uplift marginalized communities and support where I can."
One of the youngest major donors in organization's 80-year history, the 21-year-old star's Coco Gauff Scholarship Program has already sponsored multiple HBCU tennis athletes.
"My family has a deep-rooted history with HBCUs," Gauff wrote in a 2025 press release. "As a young Black athlete, I understand how impactful it is to see people who look like me thriving in both sports and education…. My hope is that this scholarship gives more young Black players the confidence to chase their dreams, knowing they have a strong community behind them and a bright future ahead."
The world's top tennis stars are rolling in Melbourne, as the first round of the 2026 Australian Open wrapped early Tuesday morning with only a few ranked seeds suffering early defeats.
World No. 15 Emma Navarro was the highest-ranked US player to fall in the first round, with the 24-year-old exiting the season's first Grand Slam in a 6-3, 3-6, 3-6 loss to Poland's No. 50 Magda Linette on Sunday.
No. 11 Ekaterina Alexandrova also stumbled in the first round, with her Melbourne run ending in a three-set loss to Turkey's No. 112 Zeynep Sönmez on Saturday before No. 68 Peyton Stearns ousted fellow US star and 2020 Australian Open champion No. 30 Sofia Kenin in straight sets on Sunday.
Many contenders still remain in the hunt, however, as the entire WTA Top 10 cruised through their opening matchups to advance to the Slam's second round.
That said, fans will miss out on one highly anticipated showdown, as wild card entry Venus Williams's first-round loss ended the 45-year-old tennis icon's path to a second-round clash with US favorite No. 3 Coco Gauff.
How to watch the second round of the 2026 Australian Open
The 2026 Australian Open continues when the Slam's second round kicks off with a Tuesday night slate that features stars like No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 3 Coco Gauff, and No. 7 Jasmine Paolini.
Tuesday's action begins at 7 PM ET, with all Melbourne matches airing live across ESPN platforms.