Iga Swiatek, world no.1, was eliminated from the Australian Open in the fourth round on Sunday after falling to Elena Rybakina in a showdown of current Grand Slam champions. Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion from Kazakhstan, defeated Swiatek, the French and US Open champion, 6-4, 6-4, on Rod Laver Arena in 1 hour and 29 minutes to move to the quarterfinals.
"It was a really tough match and I really respect Iga," said Rybakina, the 22nd seed.
"She's a young player and think she played really well," she added of the 21-year-old from Poland. "It's a big win and I'm just happy to get to another round."
In the quarterfinals, Rybakina will take on either Jelena Ostapenko or seventh-seeded Coco Gauff.
With her first serve game, Swiatek had a 40-0 advantage, and her next delivery from Rybakina had her up 15-40.
However, it was the 6ft (1.84m) tall Russian-born player who distinguished herself by winning both games and taking an early 2-0 lead.
The Pole collected herself to hold in the following game before launching an attack that earned her three break chances, one of which she converted when Rybakina went long to tie the match at 2-2.
Swiatek's first double fault at 3-3, 30-30 gave Rybakina another opportunity, which she took with a sizzling backhand crosscourt return, AFP reported.
After 42 minutes, the Wimbledon champion easily served out, knocking down her fourth ace on the first set point to take the lead.
The 23-year-old Rybakina eliminated last year's finalist Danielle Collins in the third round after more than two hours on the court and a third-set 10-point tiebreak.
In contrast, Swiatek cruised past Spanish qualifier Cristina Bucsa in the last round, dropping just one game and not seeing a breakpoint.
Swiatek took the initiative at the start of the second set, attacking with her forehand, and breaking straight away for 2-0 to the roars of a small but boisterous group of red-and-white-clad Polish fans.
The cries didn't last long.
At 1-3, Rybakina broke to love as Swiatek's first serve failed to hold.
In contrast, Rybakina was now delivering serves with strength and accuracy, and her sixth ace let her to tie the game at 3-3.
"I think I was serving good and just struggling a bit on one side," said the composed Rybakina.
"But in the important moments I played really well and that made the difference."
The pair's sole prior encounter had been won by Swiatek in straight sets in Ostrava in 2021.
But against the confident Kazakh, who made Swiatek save two break points at 4-4, history meant nothing.
Rybakina's sixth forehand strike of the set produced a third, which she won when the Pole netted and easily served out to win the match.