AO26 Day 10: Svitolina Stuns Gauff, Alcaraz Silences Home Crowd in Quarterfinal Action

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MELBOURNE — Day 10 of the 2026 Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena delivered a mix of brutal dominance and stunning upsets. While the favorites in the men’s draw held firm to set up a blockbuster semifinal, the women’s bracket was shaken by a lightning-fast upset that saw the exit of the World No. 3.

Here are the highlights from Tuesday’s quarterfinal action.

The Upset: Svitolina’s 59-Minute Masterclass

[12] Elina Svitolina (UKR) def. [3] Coco Gauff (USA) | 6-1, 6-2

In the day’s most shocking result, Elina Svitolina produced a vintage performance to dismantle American star Coco Gauff in under an hour. Returning to the site where she had stalled in the quarterfinals three times before, Svitolina played with aggressive precision that left Gauff with no answers.

Gauff, aiming for her third Grand Slam title, struggled immensely with her serve and forehand, committing 26 unforced errors. Svitolina capitalized ruthlessly, breaking the American’s serve at will and firing 12 winners to Gauff’s three. The victory propels Svitolina into her first-ever Australian Open semifinal and guarantees her return to the WTA Top 10—a major milestone in her comeback from maternity leave.

Key Quote: “Not bad, not bad at all… It’s always been my dream to come back in the Top 10 after maternity leave. That’s always been my goal.” — Elina Svitolina

The Night Session: Alcaraz Breaks Australian Hearts

[1] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) def. [6] Alex de Minaur (AUS) | 7-5, 6-2, 6-1

World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz moved within two wins of completing a Career Grand Slam, ending local hopes by defeating Australia’s Alex de Minaur in straight sets. The match began as a tight tussle, with de Minaur using his speed to stay toe-to-toe with the Spaniard in a 58-minute first set.

However, once Alcaraz secured the opening set, the resistance crumbled. Alcaraz turned Rod Laver Arena into his own personal highlight reel, striking with authority from the baseline and winning 18 of 22 points at the net. It was a statement victory for the 22-year-old, who silenced the partisan crowd to reach his maiden Australian Open semifinal.

The Juggernaut: Sabalenka Cruising

[1] Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) def. [29] Iva Jovic (USA) | 6-3, 6-0

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka continued her terrifying run of form, needing just 89 minutes to dispatch 18-year-old American sensation Iva Jovic. The “teen sensation” Jovic had been one of the tournament’s breakout stars, but she found the power of the World No. 1 insurmountable.

Sabalenka, chasing her third Australian Open title, was ruthless in the second set, winning it to love (6-0). She saved all five break points she faced and finished with 31 winners. Her victory sets up a fascinating semifinal clash against Svitolina, a battle between arguably the tour’s biggest power hitter and its most resilient counter-puncher.

The Battle: Zverev Survives a Scare

[3] Alexander Zverev (GER) def. [25] Learner Tien (USA) | 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1, 7-6(3)

In the longest match of the day (3 hours and 11 minutes), German veteran Alexander Zverev had to dig deep to hold off 20-year-old American Learner Tien. Tien, the youngest male quarterfinalist in Melbourne since Nick Kyrgios in 2015, proved to be a tricky opponent, using his lefty spin and court craft to frustrate the German.

Zverev relied heavily on his serve to bail him out of trouble, firing 24 aces and saving all three break points he faced. Despite Tien pushing the match to a tense fourth-set tiebreak, Zverev’s experience ultimately prevailed. He now advances to face Carlos Alcaraz in what promises to be a heavyweight semifinal.

⏩ Looking Ahead: Semifinal Matchups

With today’s results, the top half of the semifinal bracket is set:

  • Men’s Semifinal: [1] Carlos Alcaraz vs. [3] Alexander Zverev
  • Women’s Semifinal: [1] Aryna Sabalenka vs. [12] Elina Svitolina