In a stunning display of dominance at the Australian Open 2026, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina pulled off a major upset by defeating third seed Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-2 in straight sets during the quarterfinals. This victory marks Svitolina’s first-ever semifinal appearance at Melbourne Park and her fourth Grand Slam semifinal overall.
The 59-minute match saw Svitolina in complete control from the outset. Her aggressive baseline play and precise movement overwhelmed Gauff, who struggled with her serve and committed numerous unforced errors. In the opening set, Gauff’s service games crumbled under pressure, including two double faults in a crucial game that handed Svitolina an easy break. Svitolina wrapped up the set 6-1 with sharp strokes that left no room for error.
Gauff attempted a comeback in the second set, using wide serves to claw back some points, but she couldn’t sustain the momentum. Svitolina capitalized ruthlessly, breaking Gauff’s serve five times throughout the match to seal the win convincingly.
This triumph extends Svitolina’s winning streak to 10 matches, her third-longest tour-level streak in her career, following 15 straight in 2017 and 11 in 2025. Ranked world No. 12, Svitolina entered the tournament fresh off her 19th WTA title in Auckland and has yet to drop a set in Melbourne.
Courtside support from her husband, French tennis star Gael Monfils, added to the electric atmosphere. This performance all but guarantees her return to the WTA Top 10 next week, her first since October 2021. Against Gauff, it was Svitolina’s 24th career win over a Top-5 player, with four coming in Grand Slams—all post-maternity leave.
Next up for Svitolina on Thursday is a blockbuster semifinal clash against top seed Aryna Sabalenka. A win there could propel her to her first Grand Slam final, promising a fierce battle between two powerhouses.
