Jessica Pegula (6) 5-2 Amanda Anisimova* (4) A big forehand winner sees Anisimova move ahead but Pegula pegs her back with a backhand that gets her stretching behind her and firing into the net. Subsequently falling behind 15-30, Anisimova needed a response and got one, using a deep forehand winner to level things and then moving back ahead with an ace. Anisimova then ends a nine-shot rally with a bang overhead forehand to hold.

Jessica Pegula* (6) 5-1 Amanda Anisimova (4) It’s a matter of when, not if, Pegula wraps up this first set. She fires down a pair of aces as she moves to a 40-0 lead and then secures the hold with a gorgeous passing backhand as Anisimova charged the net – drawing a cheer of appreciation from the crowd.

Jessica Pegula (6) 4-1 Amanda Anisimova* (4) Pegula continues to cruise in this first set and quickly brings up three break points. Anisimova sees off the first but lifts a forearm just beyond the baseline on the next point, giving up the double-break.

Both players are yet to drop a set on their way to the quarterfinals, with Pagula seeing off defending champion and podcast friend Madison Keys (9), Oksana Selekhmeteva, doubles partner McCartney Kessler, and Anastasia Zakharova to get here.

Anisimova, meanwhile, defeated Xinyu Wang, Peyton Stearns, Katerina Siniakova, and Simona Waltert on her way to the last eight -- Pegula the first seeded player she’s faced so far in Melbourne.

Jessica Pegula* (6) 3-1 Amanda Anisimova (4) The duo exchange points at the start of the set’s fourth game, before an unforced forehand error by Anisimova at the end of a lengthy exchange and a deft passing shot from Pegula makes it 40-15. The hold is then secured with a wicked serve-and-forehand combination.

Jessica Pegula (6) 2-1 Amanda Anisimova* (4) Pegula sends a forehand long to make it 15-15 and give Anisimova her first point while on serve but the fourth-seed sends a forehand long herself on the next exchange to fall behind. An unforced error sees the 24-year-old level things once more but Pegula forces her wide from the baseline on the next point and she hits a forehand into the net, bringing up another break point.

A good serve down the T allows Anisimova to construct a point that ends with her smashing an overhead forehand winner across the court to bring up deuce, followed by another big serve down the T that Pegula can’t return. Anisimova then brings up a vital hold that gets her on the board.

Jessica Pegula* (6) 2-0 Amanda Anisimova (4) Pegula races further ahead, sending down back-to-back aces to move ahead 40-0. A swell-struck forehand return winner sees Anisimova register her first point of the match but some deft work on the baseline ensures that Pegula takes the next exchange and the hold.

There are two ways to look at this. Either Alex de Minaur is not good enough to beat Carlos Alcaraz – and Jannik Sinner, for that matter – or the world’s top two players are in a class of their own. Sadly, for Australia’s top-ranked player, both things are true.

After his defeat against Carlos Alcaraz (1) last night, Simon Chambers breaks down the odds that Australia’s Alex de Minaur (6) ever wins a Grand Slam.

Elsewhere, sixth-seeded men’s doubles paring Christian Harrison and Neal Skupski have moved into the semifinals after a straight sets win over Czech duo Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl, while quad wheelchair singles second seed Sam Schroder has defeated Robert Shaw and women’s wheelchair singles top seed Yui Kamiji has defeated Jiske Griffioen.

After a back-and-forth opening to the match, it really felt like Rybakina began to click into gear as the first set progressed and, ultimately, Swiatek couldn’t go with her.

Of particular importance was the Kazakhstani’s serve, which began to land a lot more and deliver some important aces. After making five in the first set, Rybakina also didn’t make a single return unforced error in the second and ultimately fired down 26 winners to ten.

She’ll now face the winner of Jessica Pegula (6) and Amanda Anisimova (4), which is due up next on Rod Laver Arena.

Elena Rybakina (5) 5-1 7-5 Iga Swiatek* (2) Oh dear. Swiatek’s race might be run here. The Pole takes the first point but Rybakina fires back with four straight points to claim the break – her final backhand winner landing just – just – inbounds in what felt like something of a backbreaker.

Elena Rybakina* (5) 4-1 7-5 Iga Swiatek (2) A backhand sent long by the Kazakhstani sees Swiatek move ahead and it’s soon 0-30 when Rybakina fires a forehand into the net.

An ace gets Rybakina on the board and she’s then level when Swiatek lashes a cross-court backhand long and wide. Another ace makes it 40-30 but Swiatek makes a statement of her own when she fires a backhand winner down the line to bring up deuce.

But two aces see out the hold for Rybakina, it almost feeling like they were sent down with an exclamation mark of ‘oh, you thought you were getting the break?’

Elena Rybakina (5) 3-1 7-5 Iga Swiatek* (2) Swiatek’s reaction to an opening ace tells you how important this game is, and she moves closer to a vital hold when Rybakina sends a backhand into the net.

A baseline forehand sent long by Swiatek draws a murmur from the crowd but she steadies by whipping down a serve Rybakina can only send long on the return. Another ace secures a vital hold – now she goes hunting for the break that will get her back in the match.

Elena Rybakina* (5) 3-0 7-5 Iga Swiatek (2) Rybakina continues to struggle to land her first serve and double faults to make it 15-30. But a backhand winner and serve-and-forehand combination steadies things and she secures the hold with a powerful ace.

Already down a set and down 3-0, a must-hold for Swiatek looms.

Elena Rybakina (5) 2-0 7-5 Iga Swiatek* (2) Rybakina breaks early!

Swiatek’s first double fault of the match sees her fall behind and Rybakina forges further when the Pole swings a forehand wide. Rybakina forces Swiatek deep on a baseline exchange on the next point and eventually claims it with a backhand winner laced down the line to line up three break points, the first of which she takes with a well-placed forehand return.

Rybakina looked like she was growing into things at the end of the first set while Swiatek was tensing up. Perhaps we’re seeing a continuation of that into the second set?

Elena Rybakina* (5) 1-0 7-5 Iga Swiatek (2) Swiatek misfires with a forehand to give up the first point of the second set but gets back on the board when she drives a forehand return wide that Rybakina can’t make proper contact with. An ace restores the Kazakhstani’s advantage and she presses further ahead when Swiatek sends a return just long.

A well-struck backhand return from the second seed induces Rybakina into lofting a forehand long but the hold is secured when she whips down a serve that Swiatek can’t return.

Rybakina was able to land just 41% of her first serves in that set -- a good thing for Swiatek given she won 93% of the points she did -- but fired down 12 winners to seven and kept her cool when it counted to claim the first set.

Elena Rybakina* (5) 6-5 Iga Swiatek (2) An ace deftly placed down the T gives Swiatek no chance. Neither does the one that immediately follows, either. Rybakina goes to her second serve on the subsequent exchanges but momentum is in her corner and she holds to love.

Elena Rybakina (5) 5-5 Iga Swiatek* (2) Swiatek steps up with the pressure on, needing to hold to keep this opening set alive and does just that

A baseline exchange ends with Rybakina sending a backhand long to open the game, but a good Rybakina return on second serve in the next point forces a backhand error. A long forehand return from Rybakina moves it to 15-30 and it’s quickly 15-40 when Swiatek forces her opponent very wide and unable to keep a forehand in. Another forehand return sails long to bring up another hold.

Elena Rybakina* (5) 5-4 Iga Swiatek (2) Swiatek smashes a backhand return into the net to fall behind and then is rendered a spectator when Rybakina thunders a forehand winner across the court to make it 30-15. Swiatek’s power gradually gives her the advantage across a 14-shot rally she takes when a big overhead smash forces an error. But an unforced error gives Swiatek back impetus and she then secures the hold with an ace.

Elena Rybakina (5) 4-4 Iga Swiatek* (2) Swiatek forces Rybakina into back-to-back errors to move ahead but surrenders the next point when she loops a forehand well beyond the baseline. A neat return from the fifth seed then induces her opponent to skid a backhand into the net but her attempt to land a forehand return in the corner on the next point goes long.

A serve blasted down the T proves unreturnable, giving Swiatek the hold.

Elena Rybakina* (5) 4-3 Iga Swiatek (2) A superb backhand winner laced down the line gives Rybakina the first point, setting the stage for her to race through and claim the first hold to love of the contest.

Elena Rybakina (5) 3-3 Iga Swiatek* (2) Swiatek sends a backhand long to give up the first point but powers back to take the next two. Rybakina meets a poorly-placed drop shot with a vicious backhand winner to level things at 30-30 but the Pole fires down her first ace of the game to move back ahead. After a good serve down the T, Swiatek then moves Rybakina as she gets to the net and induces an error to claim the hold.

Elena Rybakina* (5) 3-2 Iga Swiatek (2) The duo exchange points as the game moves to 30-30, before a backhand dragged wide by Swiatek gives the opening to secure the hold Rybakina. After a brief baseline exchange, Swiatek is sent deep and forced into a forehand that looks to go just high and wide, giving the hold to the fifth seed.

Elena Rybakina (5) 2-2 Iga Swiatek* (2) A more straightforward, but not altogether simple, hold for Swiatek.

She moves out to a 40-0 lead early on – securing her first forehand winner of the match in the process – only to be pegged back to 40-30 by Rybakina. But a serve whipped straight into Rybakina cramps her, preventing a return and giving Swiatek the hold.

Elena Rybakina* (5) 2-1 Iga Swiatek (2) Rybakina produces the first hold of the game but, gee, she had to work for it.

Swiatek races out of the blocks to bring up three break points but Rybakina rallied, firing down an ace, inducing a forehand error, and launching an unreturnable serve to bring up deuce. The fifth seed takes the first advantage only to be pegged back by Swiatek, but finally secures the hold after a forced and unforced error from the Pole.

Elena Rybakina (5) 1-1 Iga Swiatek* (2) And Rybakina breaks right back! Good stuff.

A lengthy baseline exchange ends with Swiatek sending down an overhead smash that Rybakina can’t return but the Kazakhstani levels things when the second seed is forced into a backhand error. The pair exchange points once more to bring it up to 30-30 before Rybakina brings up a break point of her own when Swiatek lifts a baseline backhand long.

Rybakina drags a baseline forehand wide to surrender the initiative and bring up deuce, takes it back when Swiatek again goes long from the baseline, and surrenders it once more with an unforced error.

But finally, the fifth seed gets her break: moving to the net and securing a third attempt with a big overhead forehand and then watching on as an unforced error from a Swiatek backhand levels things.

Both Elena Rybakina (5) and Iga Swiatek (2) have made their way out onto Rod Laver Arena, with the cooler conditions ensuring the roof is open and the sun streaming onto the court.

In a Fashion Files update, Rybakina has opted for a white visor, white top, and white skirt, while Swiatek is wearing a purple cap, white top with black and purple detailing, a black skirt, and white shoes.

Mercifully for both the players and my air conditioning bill, after yesterday’s scorcher, the temperature has dipped sharply at Olympic Park today.

24 hours on from highs hitting as much as 45°C, the Bureau of Meteorology currently has temperatures sitting at 21.9°C, with a high of 24°C forecast for later today.

A sudden swings of 20°C in a single day? That’s Melbourne, baby.

Yesterday also proved a frustrating one for Coco Gauff (3), who was blown away in straight sets by Elina Svitolina (12), setting up a meeting between the Ukrainian and Aryna Sabalenka (1), who easily handled Iva Jovic (29) earlier in the day, in the semifinals.

Angry with her performance, Gauff smashed her racquet on a concrete ramp away leading from Rod Laver Arena, unaware that she was being recorded by a nearby camera. The American went on to express frustration that broadcasters had seen fit to distribute the moment of vulnerability, stating that she felt players had fewer and fewer areas of privacy at major tournaments.

The big story from last night, definitely from a local perspective, was Australia’s own Alex de Minaur (6) going down in straight sets to world number one Carlos Alcaraz (1), as recapped by Jack Snape.

de Minaur had entered Tuesday evening’s clash playing some of the best tennis of his career but, yet again, he ran into the glass ceiling of a Grand Slam quarterfinal – Tumaini Carayol there to break down how Alcaraz simply had too much, too many weapons, for ‘The Demon’.