Elena Rybakina was at her clinical best on Monday, triumphing 6-1 6-3 over 21st seed Elise Mertens to secure a coveted berth in the quarterfinals of Australian Open 2026.
The fifth seed struck 32 winners, including 10 aces, and won 72 per cent of first serve points in a dominant performance on Margaret Court Arena. By doing so, she booked the seventh Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance of her career and first since Wimbledon 2024.
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“I’m happy that I stayed aggressive … happy to get through another round,” said Rybakina, humbly acknowledging that she landed “some good serves.”
Under a cloudless sky, the AO 2023 finalist saved what turned out to be the only break point she would face in the match in her opening service game with a 175km/h ace, setting the tone for the ensuing battle.
Thanks to easy power off both wings, Rybakina can quickly make her opponents feel like they’re being smothered during return games and honed in on Mertens in the Belgian’s first service game.
Although Mertens fended off four break points – including one with an impeccable lob and another with an ace – Rybakina wore her down to snare the advantage.
The Kazakhstani, who stands at a commanding six feet, slammed down a trio of aces to hold in 85 seconds and consolidate for a 3-0 lead.
Rybakina then broke Mertens to love, courtesy of two sizzling return winners, a deftly placed drop shot and a double fault donation from her rival.
Unflinching in focus, the 26-year-old clocked another ace to hold for 5-0 before Mertens, an AO 2018 semifinalist, put herself on the scoreboard in the 29th minute of the match.
Still, the world No.5 comfortably served out the set, helped when Mertens attempted to unleash on a forehand return but missed long.
Though the Belgian seemed to settle in the second set, executing a drop shot winner of her own, she was unable to disrupt the Rybakina rhythm.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion continued to go for broke in return games and struck a cross-court backhand winner to break for a 3-2 lead.
Serving to stay in the match at 3-5, Mertens saved one match point but could do little when Rybakina ripped yet another forehand winner on the second to clinch a place in the last eight.
With the one hour and 17 minute victory, Rybakina extended her head-to-head lead over her Belgian foe to 7-1.
Equally as self-effacing about her return game as her serve, Rybakina described it as “also not bad.”
“I had a lot of opportunities to step in on the second serve, that's what I tried to do,” said Rybakina, who won 66 per cent of points on Mertens’ second serve.
“Overall, I think the match was a good one.”
Rybakina spends most of her time in Melbourne shuttling between the AO site and her hotel, but has carved out time to nurture a friendship with a local family that she met a decade ago whilst competing in the junior girls’ event at AO 2016, aged 16.
“When I came here for the first time, I was actually alone,” she recalled. “I remember I lost and through my aunt I met this family, I stayed in their house for I think almost for a week after.”
“They showed me a lot of nice places [and] it stays a great memory because now when I come to Melbourne, I don't really have time to visit any places.”
“We are keeping in touch, kids are growing. It's also funny to see how time flies and how they [have] changed.”
Rybakina’s quarterfinal opponent is second seed Iga Swiatek, the Pole who has won six of their 11 meetings.
“She is really moving so well,” the Kazakh said of her rival. “If I play against her, I will need to not only stay aggressive, but also change a little bit the shots, maybe some variety and so on.”